Nil by Mouth (film)
Encyclopedia
Nil by Mouth is a 1997 British drama film
portraying a family of characters living in South East London
. It was Gary Oldman
's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski
and Luc Besson
. It stars Ray Winstone
as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie (Kathy Burke
). The film was a critical success, winning eight awards and being nominated for a further eight.
The film depicts the environment Oldman witnessed growing up on a council estate
in South East London. Oldman's sister Laila Morse
plays Janet and his mother voices a song in the film. The title is a medical instruction
meaning that a patient must not take food or water.
At Ray and Valerie's, Mark and Ray carry on, telling crude stories to Billy and in front of Janet, Valerie, and Ray and Valerie's young daughter Michelle. Mark and Ray take some drugs in the bathroom and take Bill with them for a night out, going to a casino and strip club. Ray buys a whole load more of drugs on the cheap.
Back at the flat Bill steals Ray’s drugs and is then savagely assaulted by Ray, who bites his nose and throws him out of his and Valerie’s flat for stealing. Bill goes to his mum and grandma's. Janet pays for Bill to score some heroin, as she can't bear to watch his come downs.
Finally Janet refuses Bill anymore money, and he breaks into Ray's flat again, stealing things to sell. Ray is furious, especially as one of the pictures Bill took was his mother's. Janet and Valerie though see Bill when he turns up at the flat and keep him out of Ray's way; Bill gives Janet some money to repay.
Ray finds Valerie playing pool with another man at the pub while she is out with Janet and some friends, including the Scottish Angus. Ray orders her home, where she goes to bed and he sits up drinking. Later he wakes her up and accusing her of having an affair, beats her savagely.
The next day, Janet comes round and sees Valerie's appalling injuries, but she tells her mum that she was run over. Valerie suddenly is hit by pain on the stairs and has a miscarriage. At the hospital Valerie admits all to Janet.
Ray and Mark go to Janet's place to try to pick up Michelle. When Janet refuses, Ray becomes violent, throwing a stone through her window. Ray and Mark then follow Angus's car, who is heading to the hospital to collect Valerie. As Ray attempts to get to Valerie, Angus jumps in and knocks Ray down.
Later Ray rings up Valerie at Angus’ house and tries but is unable to speak to her. He pulls the cord out of the wall and gets drunk; he then gets on the disconnected phone, imagining talking to his wife before completely destroying the flat.
Ray hides out at Mark’s house, explaining that he has never stood a chance, as his father was also a violent drunk who never spoke kindly to him, never showed any love, and was free with open fists towards Ray and his mother.
Bill and his druggie friend Danny are being chased by a man with a knife, and they become trapped in the Launderette. Bill is arrested and is removing drugs from his anus, which he proceeds to freebase.
Ray turns up and talks to Valerie, who rejects him, but it is obvious they still love each other.
Everyone is together at Valerie and Ray's flat, which Ray has repaired, talking about Bill, who has been knifed in prison. The family is reconciled as they prepare to visit Billy in jail.
". This results in about 3.75 occurrences per minute.
In 2001, Mind The Gap Theatre
performed a stage adaptation in New York City as part of the British Airways
sponsored UKwithNYC.
Oldman's screenplay was published as Nils by Mouth: screenplay by Gary Oldman; introduction by Douglas Urbanski. London: ScreenPress Books, 1997.
A photo-diary of the film's production containing photos by Jack English
was published in 1998 by ScreenPress Books.
. Roger Ebert
awarded the film 3.5/4 stars, writing: "The film's portrait of street life in South London
is unflinching and observant."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
portraying a family of characters living in South East London
South East (London sub region)
The South East is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. The sub region was established in 2008. The south east has a population of 1,300,000 and is the location of 500,000 jobs...
. It was Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski
Douglas Urbanski
Douglas Urbanski is an American theater impresario, raconteur and film producer.Urbanski is a business partner with actor Gary Oldman and he also runs a talent management firm, DMG...
and Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
. It stars Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie (Kathy Burke
Kathy Burke
Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
). The film was a critical success, winning eight awards and being nominated for a further eight.
The film depicts the environment Oldman witnessed growing up on a council estate
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
in South East London. Oldman's sister Laila Morse
Laila Morse
Laila Morse is an English actress, best known for playing Mo Harris in BBC series EastEnders and Janet in the 1997 movie Nil by Mouth ."Laila Morse" is an anagram of an Italian phrase for "my sister" - a name she...
plays Janet and his mother voices a song in the film. The title is a medical instruction
Nil per os
Nil per os is a medical instruction meaning to withhold oral food and fluids from a patient for various reasons. It is a Latin phrase which translates as "nothing through the mouth". In the United Kingdom it is translated as nil by mouth .Typical reasons for NPO instructions are the prevention...
meaning that a patient must not take food or water.
Plot
Ray and his pregnant partner Valerie are at the local pub. Ray leaves Valerie and her mum Janet to sit and drink with his friends. Ray sits with his best friend Mark, who is telling a crude story, and together they make the younger Bill, Ray's brother-in-law (Valerie's brother), uncomfortable and rope him into a deal coming up.At Ray and Valerie's, Mark and Ray carry on, telling crude stories to Billy and in front of Janet, Valerie, and Ray and Valerie's young daughter Michelle. Mark and Ray take some drugs in the bathroom and take Bill with them for a night out, going to a casino and strip club. Ray buys a whole load more of drugs on the cheap.
Back at the flat Bill steals Ray’s drugs and is then savagely assaulted by Ray, who bites his nose and throws him out of his and Valerie’s flat for stealing. Bill goes to his mum and grandma's. Janet pays for Bill to score some heroin, as she can't bear to watch his come downs.
Finally Janet refuses Bill anymore money, and he breaks into Ray's flat again, stealing things to sell. Ray is furious, especially as one of the pictures Bill took was his mother's. Janet and Valerie though see Bill when he turns up at the flat and keep him out of Ray's way; Bill gives Janet some money to repay.
Ray finds Valerie playing pool with another man at the pub while she is out with Janet and some friends, including the Scottish Angus. Ray orders her home, where she goes to bed and he sits up drinking. Later he wakes her up and accusing her of having an affair, beats her savagely.
The next day, Janet comes round and sees Valerie's appalling injuries, but she tells her mum that she was run over. Valerie suddenly is hit by pain on the stairs and has a miscarriage. At the hospital Valerie admits all to Janet.
Ray and Mark go to Janet's place to try to pick up Michelle. When Janet refuses, Ray becomes violent, throwing a stone through her window. Ray and Mark then follow Angus's car, who is heading to the hospital to collect Valerie. As Ray attempts to get to Valerie, Angus jumps in and knocks Ray down.
Later Ray rings up Valerie at Angus’ house and tries but is unable to speak to her. He pulls the cord out of the wall and gets drunk; he then gets on the disconnected phone, imagining talking to his wife before completely destroying the flat.
Ray hides out at Mark’s house, explaining that he has never stood a chance, as his father was also a violent drunk who never spoke kindly to him, never showed any love, and was free with open fists towards Ray and his mother.
Bill and his druggie friend Danny are being chased by a man with a knife, and they become trapped in the Launderette. Bill is arrested and is removing drugs from his anus, which he proceeds to freebase.
Ray turns up and talks to Valerie, who rejects him, but it is obvious they still love each other.
Everyone is together at Valerie and Ray's flat, which Ray has repaired, talking about Bill, who has been knifed in prison. The family is reconciled as they prepare to visit Billy in jail.
Cast
- Ray WinstoneRay WinstoneRaymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
as Ray - Kathy BurkeKathy BurkeKatherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
as Valerie - Charlie Creed-MilesCharlie Creed-MilesCharlie Creed-Miles is an English actor and musician. He had a daughter with Samantha Morton in 2000.- Filmography :* You And I .... Ian* Harry Brown .... Hickock* King Arthur .... Ganis...
as Billy - Laila MorseLaila MorseLaila Morse is an English actress, best known for playing Mo Harris in BBC series EastEnders and Janet in the 1997 movie Nil by Mouth ."Laila Morse" is an anagram of an Italian phrase for "my sister" - a name she...
as Janet - Edna DoréEdna DoréEdna Doré is a British actress. Doré is one of Britain's best known senior citizen actresses. She is known for her bit-part roles in situation comedies and for playing the character of Mo Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders .- Career :She began her career as a chorus girl in ENSA, then spent...
as Kath - Chrissie Cotterill as Paula
- Jon MorrisonJon MorrisonFor the 19th-century baseball player, see Jon Morrison .Jon Morrison is a Scottish actor who has appeared in many plays, films and series since the early 1970s including The Bill, Bergerac and Taggart...
as Angus - Jamie ForemanJamie ForemanJamie Foreman is an English actor best known for his roles as Duke in Layer Cake and Bill Sikes in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist . He played opposite Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke in Gary Oldman's Nil by Mouth and also featured in Elizabeth , Gangster No. 1 and Sleepy Hollow...
as Mark - Steve Sweeney as Danny
Release
This film employs around 428 uses of the word "fuckFuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
". This results in about 3.75 occurrences per minute.
In 2001, Mind The Gap Theatre
Mind The Gap Theatre
The brainchild of Paula D'Alessandris, Mind The Gap Theatre Company was conceived in 1998 to import edgy British productions, readings and workshops to New York audiences and, in return, export some of America's unknown theatrical talent to the United Kingdom...
performed a stage adaptation in New York City as part of the British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
sponsored UKwithNYC.
Oldman's screenplay was published as Nils by Mouth: screenplay by Gary Oldman; introduction by Douglas Urbanski. London: ScreenPress Books, 1997.
A photo-diary of the film's production containing photos by Jack English
Jack English (photographer)
-Early life:Jack English is photographer, known for his work in the film and music industry. The first of two sons born in Leicester to businessman Jack English and Dutch mother Jansje Schoen...
was published in 1998 by ScreenPress Books.
Reception
Reviews for Nil by Mouth were mixed but tended towards the positive, with a 65% "fresh" rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
awarded the film 3.5/4 stars, writing: "The film's portrait of street life in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
is unflinching and observant."
Awards and nominations
- 1997 Cannes Film Festival1997 Cannes Film Festival-Jury:*Isabelle Adjani *Gong Li *Mira Sorvino *Paul Auster *Tim Burton *Luc Bondy *Patrick Dupond *Mike Leigh *Nanni Moretti *Michael Ondaatje -Feature film competition:...
:- Winner: Best ActressBest Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)The Best Actress Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of films at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.-Award Winners:-External links:* * ....
(Kathy Burke) - Nominee: Palme d'OrPalme d'OrThe Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
(Golden Palm)
- Winner: Best Actress
- 1997 Edinburgh International Film FestivalEdinburgh International Film FestivalThe Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
:- Winner: Channel 4 Director's Award (Gary Oldman)
- 1997 European Film Awards:
- Nominee: Best Cinematographer (Ray Fortunato)
- 1997 BAFTA Awards:
- Winner: Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film (Luc Besson, Douglas Urbanski)
- Winner: BAFTA Award for Best Original ScreenplayBAFTA Award for Best Original ScreenplayThe BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay is the British Academy Film Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. It has been awarded since 1984, when the original category was split into two awards, the other being the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted...
(Gary Oldman) - Nominee: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ray Winstone)
- Nominee: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Kathy Burke)
- 1998 British Independent Film AwardsBritish Independent Film AwardsThe Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British...
:- Winner: Best Performance by a British Actor in an Independent Film (Ray Winstone)
- Winner: Best Performance by a British Actress in an Independent Film (Kathy Burke)
- Winner: Most Promising Newcomer in any Category (Laila Morse)
- Nominee: Best British Director of an Independent Film (Gary Oldman)
- Nominee: Best British Independent Film
- Nominee: Best Original Screenplay by a British Writer of a Produced Independent Film (Gary Oldman)
- 1998 Empire AwardsEmpire (magazine)Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
:- Winner: Best Debut (Gary Oldman)
- 1997 Royal Variety Club of Great Britain
- Winner: Best Film Actress (Kathy Burke)
- 1997: Golden Frog Award:
- Nominee: Cinematography (Ron Fortunato)