This film is part of our winter series, running at De Uitkijk throughout December and January. This year, our winter series focuses on loneliness, but don’t worry, you can still enjoy warmth and good company at De Uitkijk…!
The nihilistic Johnny drifts through post-Thatcher London. The post-punks, yuppies, and wage slaves he encounters are all crushed beneath the alienation of modern urban life. Johnny stumbles from street fight to assault, making it a habit to drive away anyone who shows him even the slightest bit of care. NAKED (1993) overflows with venom, hatred, and relentless cynicism.
Mike Leigh’s England is cold and desolate. After his earlier tragicomic work, Leigh took a darker turn with NAKED (1993). Through his portrait of the misogynistic Johnny, the viewer is pulled completely into a hopeless, broken England. David Thewlis’s performance as Johnny is shocking, repellent, and utterly mesmerizing. At Cannes, both Thewlis and Leigh received awards for NAKED (1933).