JOHNNY SUEDE is a dark comic fable set in the shadows of a modern American metropolis.

Johnny (Brad Pitt) is the central character, an aspiring though mildly taltented musician, infatuated with suede and Ricky Nelson. He appears to be a loner by choice; his only friend is a young black man named Deke (Calvin Levels). Painting apartments with Deke provided Johnny with his only source of income.

Johnny falls in love with Darlette (Alison Moir), a beautiful troubled girl who appears to be the girl of his dreams. During their intensely brief relationship, Johnny becomes obsessed with Darlette and is devastated when she abruptly leaves him to go back to her boyfriend who lives across the street from Johnny. The pain of Darlette's rejection stiffens Johnny's resolve to launch his musical career. He forms his band, Johnny and the Persueders, an unelikely quartet of misfits drawn from the neighbourhood. On his way to rehersal he stops a tiny cowboy from looking up a woman's dress and thereby meets Yvonne.

Although intelligent and attractive, Yvonne (Catherine Keener) is the opposite type of Darlette and Johnny is not immediately attracted. As their relationship develops however, Johnny is surprised to find himself drawn by Yvonne's humour, strength and sincerity. In spite of the learned advice of Deke and his own misgivings, Johnny moves in with Yvonne. But Yvonne is not the kind of woman, who is blinded by a carefully styled Ricky-Nelson-image. Their developing intimacy startes to threaten Johnny's illusions about himself and the world...