Hidden City

After establishing a fine reputation in British television drama, Stephen Poliakoff directed his first feature film in 1987. A mystery wrapped in conspiracy and secrets, Hidden City tells the story of James Richards (Charles Dance), a writer who is sucked into a search for a lost piece of film by Sharon Newton (Cassie Stuart), a video librarian. What they stumble upon are cover-ups, tense searches, and possible danger. With the help of Witold Stoks’ excellent cinematography, Poliakoff has crafted a rich look into London’s dark history, with disused tram-tunnels and long-forgotten subterranean chambers serving as the backdrop to explore the depths of the British pre-occupation with secrecy. Featuring a sensational cast of stellar British talent including Charles Dance, Richard E. Grant and Bill Paterson, Stephen Poliakoff's rarely seen directorial debut is a stylish thriller ripe for rediscovery. (British Film Institute (BFI))