The Tribe is a 1998 television film drama written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starring Joely Richardson, Jeremy Northam, Trevor Eve, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Anna Friel.
Property developer Northam is tasked with evicting a post-modern hippie proto-cult led by Richardson from a building. But they slowly win him over to their dark lifestyle, bizarre rituals, eating habits and dangerous liaisons.
The film was made in 1996, but not transmitted until 1998. Music is by Poliakoff regular Adrian Johnston and it carries some of the Polikov trademarks such as photograph studies.
Controversial for its nudity and a much discussed ménage à trois sex scene between characters played by Anna Friel (her first work after leaving Brookside), Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Jeremy Northam.
Contents
Cast
Joely Richardson as Emily
Jeremy Northam as Jamie
Anna Friel as Lizzie
Trevor Eve as Kanahan
Laura Fraser as Megan
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Adam
Sean Francis as Lawrence
Stephanie Buttle as Katrinna
George Costigan as Micky
Lynne Miller as Judith
Emma Amos as Diana
Rene Lawrence as Colin
Michael Feast as Delario
Julian Rhind-Tutt as Forester
Kate Isitt as Caroline
Rupert Penry-Jones as Dietrich
Andreas Wisniewski as Lieutenant
Togo Igawa as Japanese Businessman
Kate Gartside as Mary
Helen Lindsay as Emily's Mother
Frank Mills as Emily's Father
Rob Marni as Thug
Production
Anna Friel admitted she was terrified at the thought of filming the sex scene with Jeremy Northam and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She said: "On the day of the bedroom scenes, I got incredibly nervous. When I got on set, it was the most unsexy feeling I've ever had, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be."