# Under the Skin (1997 film)
**Under the Skin** is a 1997 British drama written and directed by Carine Adler, starring [Samantha Morton](https://www.edgepedia.org/samantha-morton) as a young woman whose behavior unravels after her mother's sudden death. Produced by the BFI Production Board with Channel Four and Strange Dog Productions, it won the Michael Powell Award for best British feature at the 1997 Edinburgh Film Festival and launched the screen career of Samantha Morton.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin) • [2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | Carine Adler, her first feature[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin) • [4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin) |
| Lead cast | Samantha Morton (Iris Kelley), Claire Rushbrook (Rose), Rita Tushingham (Mum)[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) |
| Production | BFI Production Board, Channel Four, Strange Dog Productions; roughly $1 million budget; shot on 35mm Kodak[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin) |
| Festival honors | Michael Powell Award, Edinburgh 1997; FIPRESCI critics' prize, Toronto; Sundance 1998 Official Selection[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) |
| Other awards | Seven awards including Best Director and Best Actress at the BIFAs, per Hanway Films[6](https://www.hanwayfilms.com/under-the-skin) |
| Box office | Worldwide gross of $140,254 against an estimated $1,000,000 budget[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185/) |
| Running time | Reported variously as 79, 81, 82 and 83 minutes across official records[8](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
When their mother ([Rita Tushingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/rita-tushingham), briefly seen) dies suddenly from a brain tumor, two sisters, Iris and Rose, are grief-stricken, and it is Iris whose behavior goes off the rails.[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) Nineteen-year-old Iris leaves her boyfriend Gary, moves into a bedsit, and begins dressing in her mother's wig, fur coat and sunglasses while picking up men in Liverpool.[4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin) Variety described the story as a virtually plotless account of a grief-stricken 19-year-old on a sexual odyssey, set in Liverpool over a two-month period.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/)
**Family breakdown.** Iris's behavior is exacerbated by her combative relationship with her older sister, which brings feelings of jealousy and rivalry to the surface; she becomes increasingly estranged from her sister, her friends and her ex-boyfriend.[4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin) The film ends with Iris's reconciliation with her pregnant sister Rose, planting the mother's ashes and discarding the empty urn in water, images of birth and rebirth.[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) The title's "skin" relates to Iris's struggle with her body, prefigured in an image of her writing on her abdomen with a black marker pen.[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html)
### Cast and characters
Samantha Morton plays Iris Kelley, Claire Rushbrook plays Rose, Rita Tushingham plays Mum, Stuart Townsend plays Tom, and Mark Womack plays Frank; [Christine Tremarco](https://www.edgepedia.org/christine-tremarco) and Matthew Delamere also appear.[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin) Rose is seven months pregnant in the story.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/)
The film was Morton's first major feature film role.[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) She was 19 at the time and had previously worked in television, with credits including *Soldier Soldier*, *Band of Gold* and *Jane Eyre*.[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) Variety's review called her "at least half the reason for the film's success".[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/)
## Production
Made for around $1 million, the picture was a Strange Dog production made alongside Rouge Films and the Merseyside Film Production Fund, with the [British Film Institute](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-film-institute) and Channel 4 [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) presenting it, and Kate Ogborn serving as producer.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin) It was shot on 35mm Kodak stock by cinematographer Barry Ackroyd, edited by Ewa Lind, with music by Ilona Sekacz.[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [9](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/under-skin-0) • [4](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin)
## Release and reception
The film was reviewed at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 21 August 1997 and also screened at Venice and Toronto.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) It was an Official Selection at the 1998 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival).[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) The BBFC classified a theatrical version of 82m 59s on 10 September 1997, distributed by British Film Institute Ltd, and passed it '18' for strong language, sex and sexual references.[8](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg) A US release followed on May 22, 1998, and a Danish theatrical release on 4 December 1998 through distributor Gloria Film.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185/) • [9](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/under-skin-0)
Variety's August 1997 review called it an impressive, highly involving feature debut, while noting that the film would pose a major marketing challenge to any theatrical distributor.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) The FIPRESCI citation praised "its daring examination of grief" and "the energetic intensity of its direction".[10](https://fipresci.org/awards/under-the-skin/)
## Awards
The film beat competition from 18 other titles to win the Michael Powell Award for best British feature at Edinburgh.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) It also received the critics' prize at the [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival) and was an Official Selection at Sundance 1998.[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) Hanway Films states it won seven awards including Best Director and Best Actress at the BIFAs.[6](https://www.hanwayfilms.com/under-the-skin)
One record is inconsistent: FIPRESCI lists the Toronto critics' award under the 20th Toronto International Film Festival, an edition that predates the film's 1997 release, while BFI Player associates the prize with the film's 1997 festival run.[10](https://fipresci.org/awards/under-the-skin/) • [5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online)
## By the numbers
Running times differ across official records. The BBFC lists the feature at approximately 79 minutes, with a theatrical version of 82m 59s and a 1998 video/VOD version of 79m 19s; Variety gives 81 minutes; the BFI catalog, FIPRESCI and IMDb give 82 minutes; and BFI Player lists 1hr 23mins.[8](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg) • [3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin) • [10](https://fipresci.org/awards/under-the-skin/) • [5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) The estimated budget was $1,000,000 and the worldwide gross $140,254.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185/) Key dates are the Edinburgh review on 21 August 1997, the BBFC theatrical classification on 10 September 1997, the US release on 22 May 1998, and the Danish release on 4 December 1998.[3](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/) • [8](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185/) • [9](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/under-skin-0)
## Legacy and critical reassessment
The BFI includes the film among its "90 great films of the 1990s".[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin) BFI Screenonline frames it as addressing feminist concerns about language, voice and femininity, and notes that Rita Tushingham's brief presence evokes the British films of the 1960s, such as *[A Taste of Honey](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-taste-of-honey-film)* (d. [Tony Richardson](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-richardson), 1962).[2](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html) Hanway Films describes the film as having launched the careers of two major British talents, Carine Adler and Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton.[6](https://www.hanwayfilms.com/under-the-skin)
**Availability.** The film is available to stream on BFI Player, and a 79m 19s version was classified in 1998 for physical media and VOD/streaming, distributed by BFI Video.[5](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online) • [8](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg)
## References
1. [Under the Skin (1997), BFI](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/59545f3d-8fde-58cc-ba31-daa28df0f39b/under-the-skin)
2. [Under the Skin (1997), BFI Screenonline](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/493153/index.html)
3. [Under the Skin review, Variety (1997)](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/under-the-skin-2-1117329433/)
4. [Under the Skin, British Council UK Films Database](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/under-the-skin)
5. [Watch Under the Skin online, BFI Player](https://player.bfi.org.uk/subscription/film/watch-under-the-skin-1997-online)
6. [Under The Skin, Hanway Films](https://www.hanwayfilms.com/under-the-skin)
7. [Under the Skin (1997), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124185/)
8. [Under the Skin, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/under-the-skin-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmda1mzg)
9. [Under the Skin, Danish Film Institute](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/film/under-skin-0)
10. [Under the Skin, FIPRESCI](https://fipresci.org/awards/under-the-skin/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 1990s › Drama films late 1990s › Released 1995 to 1998*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license