Depending on who you ask, the 1990s was the greatest decade in movie history. Advancements in special effects and the rise of the big-budget blockbuster certainly contribute to that assertion, but the ‘90s also saw the genesis of independent films shot in a raw and unflinching style; films like Larry Clarke’s “Kids” (1995), Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” (1992), and Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting” (1996).
The stage had been set by the time “Nil By Mouth” came out in 1997. Movie audiences were already prepared for a movie that, while hard to watch at times, exuded gritty realism and dealt with profoundly flawed but incredibly human characters. And, while “Nil By Mouth” may not have the same name recognition as most of its other cinematic ilk, it deserves prime placement alongside the pantheon of ‘90s drama films. Written and directed by Gary Oldman (yes, that Gary Oldman), the film features powerful performances from its leads, engaging, documentary-style cinematography, and a dark, gripping atmosphere that sticks with you long after the credits roll.
“Nil By Mouth,” tells the story of Ray (Ray Winstone), a quick-tempered, abusive alcoholic who lives in a rough South London neighborhood along with his wife Val (Kathy Burke), her drug-addicted brother Billy (Charlie Creed-Miles), their mother Janet (Laila Morse), and Janet’s mother Kath (Edna Doré). In lieu of a structured plot, the movie functions more as an expletive-laden character study — the word “cunt” is used 82 times (a cinematic record), while “fuck,” or variations of the word, is uttered 428 times.
At the center of the chaos are Ray, Val, and Billy. Ray is primarily characterized by his excessive drinking and frequent cocaine use, which exacerbate his jealousy and paranoia, leading to violent outbursts. Through dialogue between Ray and his best friend Mark (Jamie Foreman) — seemingly improvised conversations that serve as the darkly comical moments in the film — it’s understood that both men have done prison time. It’s also clear that they haven’t totally given up their criminal ways, as they engage in occasional drug trafficking during the events of the film.
Meanwhile, Val, the frequent target of Ray’s abuse, does the best she can to navigate his mood swings while also trying to raise their young daughter, Michelle, and maintain a social life with her friends, Paula (Chrissie Cotterill) and Angus (Jon Morrison). Finally, there’s Billy, a heroin addict who does odd jobs for Ray until Ray kicks him out of the shared apartment for stealing drugs. Billy’s subsequent life on the streets and descent into full-blown heroin dependence is the bleakest part of the film, as he and his friend Danny (Steve Sweeney) resort to theft and other desperate actions to sustain their habit, eventually ending up in jail as a result.
The people in the film are complicated, none of them completely faultless—a pregnant Val continues to smoke and drink throughout the film, while Janet enables Billy’s drug habits. For Gary Oldman, these were more than just two-dimensional characters. The story that he presents in “Nil By Mouth” is predominantly based on his formative years in the working-class London town of New Cross.
Now, virtually anyone with a passing knowledge of cinema is familiar with Gary Oldman, the actor. Winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film “Darkest Hour,” the London-born star has been a major A-lister since the mid-80s, boasting a wide-ranging resume that includes such roles as Sex Pistols frontman Sid Vicious in “Sid and Nancy,” Dracula in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” and Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” franchise. The debut of Gary Oldman, the writer and director, came more than ten years after he had already established himself as an accomplished big-screen entertainer. As Oldman made clear in a 2023 interview with The Guardian, his decision to try his hand behind the camera was not influenced on a whim caused by creative boredom or during a lull in his career but out of a gnawing need to portray something deeply personal to him.
“I felt the London I’d known growing up had never been represented. Things happened in my family that were shocking, so I felt a nudge to tell my own story. I was in New York. I got out my notebook and started writing. Originally, I thought it would all center on Billy, but then these other characters came in. I had the urge to get behind the camera and continue writing whenever I could in the trailer or on the plane. The first draft was completed in three or four weeks.”
Thanks to financial backing from renowned French filmmaker Luc Besson, who first directed Oldman in the 1994 film “Leon: The Professional,” Oldman was able to raise the $9 million necessary to make his proposed drama a reality. The casting process came relatively easily: Oldman won over Ray Winstone during a quick lunch meeting, while he contacted Kathy Burke through her casting agent and discovered Charlie Creed-Miles via improvisation classes set up by his casting director. For the role of Janet, Oldman cast his own sister, “EastEnders” star Laila Morse. The family connections didn’t stop there, as the voice dubbed onto the end-credits track, “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man,” belongs to Oldman’s 75-year-old mother. Speaking of music, Oldman was also able to recruit Eric Clapton as the film’s composer after the legendary guitarist attended an early screening in California.
Interestingly enough, “Nil By Mouth” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival the day after Luc Besson’s “The Fifth Element.” Oldman, who plays the villainous Zorg, was convinced to star in the science-fiction film as a favor to Besson for financing Oldman’s debut picture. The creative quid pro quo paid off for “Nil By Mouth” in its festival debut, as Kathy Burke won Best Actress, while the film also earned a Palme d’Or nomination. Grossing less than $1 million worldwide, “Nil By Mouth” was not a profitable film by any means. However, it was a critical triumph, earning two BAFTAs (Best British Film and Best Original Screenplay) and three British Independent Film Awards (Best British Actor in an Independent Film for Winstone, Best British Actress in an Independent Film for Burke, and Most Promising Newcomer in any Category for Morse).
In 2022, “Nil By Mouth” was remastered in 4K for its 25th anniversary by the BFI National Archive, proving its cultural relevance after all these years. So, what is it about the film that still makes it so impactful today? Oldman’s connection to the subject matter certainly helps — the movie ends with “In memory of my father,” a somewhat dubious dedication, as Oldman’s father was a violence-prone heavy drinker who largely inspired the character of Ray. But, the film transcends the anecdotal, holding a high-powered magnifying glass up to the problems in British society at the time, particularly the rampant drug use and permeating classism.
Still, “Nil By Mouth” is perhaps the most accessible, and therefore most effective, as a disturbing portrayal of generational trauma. Those affected all live under the same roof. Val, Janet, and Kath represent three generations of women who have clearly all suffered at the hands of terrible. At the same time, Billy has likely turned to drugs to numb the pain wrought by his difficult childhood and criminal father. Finally, the film’s title (a reference to the medical instruction indicating that a patient must not orally consume food or water) is dropped during an especially heartbreaking monologue from Ray when he recalls his own unloving, alcoholic father who eventually succumbed to his rough lifestyle.
The implications of the characters’ traumatic environments are tragic. Val would rather continue her unhealthy habits than give birth to another child and continue the cycle. Even after Ray viciously beats Val, causing her miscarriage, the couple reunites at the end of the film following Billy’s arrest. It’s a strangely happy reunion and one that introduces a myriad of unanswered questions: Will Val take Ray back for good? Will Ray eventually spiral back into his old ways? Will Billy escape hard times and get his life back on track? How will Michelle end up after witnessing her mother’s constant abuse?
In short, “Nil By Mouth” is light on Hollywood sizzle and heavy on emotional heft. It’s a brutal viewing experience but a necessary creative endeavor. As Ray Winstone told The Guardian last year, “The film’s a tough watch, perhaps not one for Saturday night with a pizza, but I think it stands the test of time. And that’s the genius of Gary Oldman.”
