Mike Leigh’s Naked Getting A 4K BFI Blu-Ray Release

Featuring a razor-sharp script and direction by Mike Leigh and brilliantly claustrophobic cinematography by Dick Pope, this Cannes-winning film is a masterful, controversial and totally unforgettable exploration of society in free-fall at the tail end of Thatcher’s Britain.

Naked has been newly remastered in 4K by the BFI National Archive and is presented on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. The film  is set for release in November, first on  its UK-wide theatrical release on 12th November. All   part of the BFI’s major celebration of Mike Leigh this autumn, which includes the Blu-ray and digital release of Bleak Moments (1971) on the same date, a complete retrospective of Mike Leigh’s work currently running at the BFI Southbank which is running until 30th November, a collection on BFI Player, a season of Leigh’s work at HOME, Manchester and more.

Full details at: https://www.bfi.org.uk/mike-leigh

Johnny (David Thewlis) is a frenetic and destructive outsider who tears through the lives of others like an emotional tornado. On the run from Manchester, he seeks sanctuary with his ex-girlfriend Louise (Lesley Sharp) in London, where he immediately targets her vulnerable housemate Sophie (Katrin Cartlidge) with his unique blend of predatory charm. From there he embarks on a nocturnal odyssey across the city, dragging other disaffected souls into his orbit as he spirals towards his own personal apocalypse.

Naked’s remastering in 4K took place under the full supervision of cinematographer on every Leigh film since 1990, Dick Pope, and was approved by Mike Leigh. The 4K remastering of Naked received its world premiere at the 2021 BFI London Film Festival.

Special features

• Newly remastered in 4K by the BFI National Archive under the supervision of cinematographer Dick Pope and approved by Mike Leigh
• Audio commentary with Mike Leigh, David Thewlis and Katrin Cartlidge
• The Short & Curlies (1987, 18 mins): Mike Leigh’s short film starring Alison Steadman and David Thewlis centres on a hairdresser and her daughter and the romance between a woman who works in a chemist and a man who mainly communicates through jokes
• Mike Leigh and Dick Pope on Naked (2021, 26 mins): newly recorded interview with Mike Leigh and his long-time cinematographer
• The Guardian Interview: Mike Leigh (2002, 45 mins): the director is interviewed by film critic Derek Malcolm at the National Film Theatre
• Image gallery
• Trailer (2021)
• ***First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with new writing on the film by Caitlin Quinlan and Lou Thomas and notes on the special features

UK / 1993 / 131 mins / English language, w/ optional subtitles for the Deaf &  partial hearing / 1.66:1 

Mike Leigh‘s Naked will be  released on Blu-ray and digitally, including BFI Player, on 29th November.