- published: 07 Oct 2013
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Following is a 1998 British neo-noir film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. It tells the story of a young man who follows strangers around the streets of London and is drawn into a criminal underworld when he fails to keep his distance.
His debut film, it was designed to be as inexpensive as possible to make: scenes were heavily rehearsed so that just one or two takes were needed, thus economising on 16 mm film stock, the production's greatest expense, and for which Nolan was paying from his salary. Without expensive professional lighting equipment, Nolan mostly used available light. Apart from providing the script and direction, Nolan also did the photography, editing and production himself. The film has an unusual, non-linear plot structure which has been a feature in several of Nolan's films.
A struggling, unemployed young writer (credited as "The Young Man") takes to following strangers around the streets of London, ostensibly to find inspiration for his first novel. Initially, he sets strict rules for himself regarding whom he should follow and for how long, but soon discards them as he focuses on a well-groomed, handsome man in a dark suit. The man in the suit, having noticed he is being followed, quickly confronts the Young Man and introduces himself as "Cobb". Cobb reveals that he is a serial burglar and invites The Young Man to accompany him on various burglaries. The material gains from these crimes seem to be of secondary importance to Cobb, who takes pleasure in rifling through the personal items in his targets' flats, and doing things such as drinking their wine. He explains that his true passion is using the shock of robbery and violation of property to make his victims re-examine their lives. He sums up his attitude thus: "You take it away, and show them what they had."
I turn on the tap and run some water
Flick a little switch on the wall
I'm hoping you remember what I taught ya
Hoping you remember me at all
I'm strong but I feel like a mouse when you're gone
I'm weak but I'll take on the world when you're here
With me, with me
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Will you please face it and come home
When I think about you're sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
I can see you got a real taste but that champaigne but its all gone
Come home, the kettles on
I've got a little something on my mind
To keep it to myself isn't really very kind
Pouring out my heart isn't usually my style
But you gave me an inch so I'm gonna take a mile
You see
I'm strong but I feel like a mouse when you're gone
I'm weak but I'll take on the world when you're here
With me, with me
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Will you please face it and come home
When I think about you're sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
I can see you got a real taste but that champaigne but its all gone
So come home, the kettles on
Yea yea yea
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Will you please face it and come home
When I think about you're sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Will you please face it and come home
When I think about you're sweet face
I cant wait for you to comeeeeeeeeeeeeee home