Writer and director Ryan Coogler, fresh off the success of his box office hit Sinners, has openly expressed admiration for Christopher Nolan’s first feature film, Following, highlighting its profound impact on his own creative journey. During a recent discussion about his cinematic influences, Coogler cited Nolan as a mentor, emphasizing how Following introduced many signature hallmarks that the acclaimed director would revisit throughout his career.
Nolan’s Early Masterpiece That Inspired Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler’s acknowledgment of Nolan’s influence is evident in the credits of Sinners, with both Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas receiving special thanks for their support. In the Criterion Closet video series, Coogler singled out Following as an exceptional debut, praising Nolan’s ability to craft an immersive neo-noir mystery on a shoestring budget. Addressing the practical challenges Nolan faced, Coogler admired the film‘s ingenuity, describing it as a showcase of what is possible with limited means but limitless ambition.
Released in 1998, Following stands as Nolan’s only film to receive a Criterion release. The story follows a writer, known only as The Young Man and played by Jeremy Theobald, who roams the streets of London searching for inspiration by trailing strangers. He eventually encounters Cobb, portrayed by Alex Haw, whose own habit of breaking into apartments to sift through people’s possessions leads the protagonist into increasingly risky territory. The storyline intensifies when The Young Man, also called Bill, grows closer to a woman whose flat he and Cobb have broken into, deepening the film’s sense of danger and suspense.
Through these narrative twists, Nolan plants the seeds for intricate storytelling techniques he would later develop in films like Memento and The Prestige, blending non-linear timelines with enigmatic characters. Starring mostly unknown actors such as Lucy Russell and John Nolan, the film was shot in black-and-white on 16mm film, which provided an authentic aesthetic while keeping costs down. Drawing inspiration from his own experience with a break-in at his London apartment, Nolan remarked,
“I realized that the door was just plywood, and that was never keeping anybody out. What was keeping people out was the social protocols that we have that allow us to live together. I was interested in the certain types of people who would stop observing those protocols, and why that would be.”
—Christopher Nolan, Director. This curiosity about transgressing boundaries lies at the heart of Following, cementing its unique place in Nolan’s filmography.
Exploring Themes That Define Nolan’s Career
Following, created without a major Hollywood budget or famous cast, provides an early exploration of the complex themes that would define Christopher Nolan’s later works, including those featuring actors like Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Robert Pattinson. The film’s fractured narrative structure plays with time and viewpoint, a signature approach seen in Inception and Tenet, challenging viewers’ perceptions of reality and memory. In Following, questions of identity, the flexibility of memory, and the rules of society are closely examined, much as they are in Nolan’s acclaimed films Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight trilogy.
The relationship between Cobb and The Young Man reveals a study of masculinity, echoing later Nolan duos such as Borden and Angiers in The Prestige or Neil and the Protagonist in Tenet. While the narrative unfolds on a smaller scale, the tension and emotional charge reflect the intense dynamics Nolan revisits in his most celebrated projects.
Nolan’s uncle, John Nolan, appears among the cast, adding a personal touch to the ensemble. By leveraging the noir tradition, a limited budget, and personal experiences, Nolan manifests his evolving vision as a filmmaker, making Following a formative step in his career.
Where to Watch and Lasting Influence
Christopher Nolan’s Following, regarded by Ryan Coogler as essential viewing for any fan of innovative cinema, is currently available to stream for free on Tubi. For those who discovered Nolan through blockbusters like The Dark Knight trilogy or explored his style after Oppenheimer’s acclaim, Following offers a window into the foundational elements of his storytelling and cinematic style.
Coogler’s praise for Following underlines the film‘s legacy as an enduring inspiration for filmmakers and movie lovers alike. As viewers trace the threads from this compact noir to Nolan’s later masterpieces, the film stands as a testament to what a creative mind can achieve, regardless of resources, when driven by vision and resilience.
