Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut is a lean, obsessive study of a young man who cannot stop following people. Following runs 69 minutes and earns its runtime through repetition, not spectacle. The film follows Bill, an unemployed aspiring writer, as he stalks strangers across London’s streets, a habit that spirals into something far darker when he meets Cobb, a burglar who offers him a front-row seat to crime.
Trailer, via CRITERION.
Bill’s Rules
Bill starts with strict limits. He decides who to follow and for how long, but he drops those rules fast once he locks onto Cobb. Cobb is a handsome man in a dark suit who notices Bill and turns around to introduce himself. That moment is the hinge of the film. From there, Bill abandons his own rules and steps into a world of burglary and theft.
Cobb’s Philosophy
Cobb is not in it for the money. He takes pleasure in rifling through flats and drinking stolen wine. His stated aim is to shock his victims into seeing themselves anew. As Cobb puts it, “You take it away, and show them what they had.” That line captures the whole film’s engine: obsession dressed as curiosity, and curiosity that turns dangerous.
The Blonde and the Bald Guy
Bill falls for a blonde woman whose flat he and Cobb have burgled. She tells him she is the girlfriend of a small-time gangster, the Bald Guy, who murdered a man in her flat. The Blonde later admits the Bald Guy is blackmailing her with photos. Bill breaks into the Bald Guy’s safe but is caught by a guard, whom he bludgeons with a hammer and flees.
The Costumes
Bill adopts a new identity, Daniel Lloyd, taken from a stolen credit card Cobb hands him. He cuts his hair short and wears a dark suit, mirroring Cobb’s own style. The change is not subtle. It signals that Bill has fully committed to the criminal life, even as the film watches him sink deeper.
The Crew
Nolan wrote, directed, photographed and edited the film himself. His wife, Emma Thomas, co-produced with him. Actor Jeremy Theobald also produced. The cast is small and mostly unknown, led by Theobald as Bill and Alex Haw as Cobb. The film was shot on weekends over a year, with much of it filmed in homes belonging to Nolan’s friends and family.
The San Francisco Premiere
Following screened at the 41st San Francisco International Film Festival on 24 April 1998. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection in 2012. The festival premiere gave Nolan his first public showing, and the Criterion release brought the film wider attention years later.
What Works
The film’s tight structure rewards patience. Nolan uses a non-linear narrative, jumping back and forth between Bill’s current troubles and his earlier meetings with Cobb. This approach pays off in the final stretch, where the film’s fragmented structure ties together neatly.
What Falls Short
Some scenes feel padded. The middle stretch, where Bill drifts between apartments and crimes, can drag without adding much to the central tension. The film’s low budget shows in its settings, which rely heavily on London streets and domestic interiors rather than anything staged.
Key Facts
– Runtime: 69 minutes
– Director: Christopher Nolan
– Writer: Christopher Nolan
– Release: 1999
– DVD/Blu-ray: The Criterion Collection, 2012
Comparing the Leads
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Bill / The Young Man | Jeremy Theobald |
| Cobb | Alex Haw |
Following is a promising start from a director who would go on to much bigger projects. It is lean, atmospheric and occasionally gripping, though it drags in the middle and shows its low-budget seams. The film’s themes of obsession and identity remain sharp even now. It is worth seeing for its ambition, if not for its polish.
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