There's not a whole lot that can be said about "Following" without ruining some of the details, so - like the film itself - I will try keep this short and sweet.
An unnamed writer (Theobald) begins following people to help him develop characters for his novel. But he is caught by a man named Cobb (Haw) who introduces him to the world of burglary. The writer soon finds himself consumed the the philosophy and thrill of the break-in. But, as his second career expands, he begins to find himself caught up in machinations of more powerful criminals.
"Following" is Nolan's first film, but in it he experiments with some of the storytelling devices which would become cornerstones of his later films. The one that stands out the most is revealing the story in a non-linear fashion - showing how certain parts end before showing how they begin. This is the central trope of "Memento," but it's used with great effect here as well. The changes in sequence are not as clear in "Following" though, so it's important to use random details (haircuts, clothes, bruises) to help determine which part of the story is being told. This device demands the viewer's attention, or the story will seem choppy and incoherent.
The movie's final reveal - which I won't tell here - is expertly set up. By ending the film with such a twist, Nolan practically begs the viewer to watch the film again right away to try to fit the puzzle pieces together. The "twist-ending" can be a bit cliche when not handled correctly, but Nolan uses it like a pro in his first try.
"Following" isn't a perfect film, but it's surprising how great it is. Nolan already has his filmmaker's toolbox filled in his rookie effort, and uses those tools to make a great movie.
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