Metroland (1997)

Director:

Philip Saville

Writers:

Julian Barnes (novel)
Adrian Hodges (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 July 1998 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Metroland is not a location - it is a state of mind.

Plot:

The sudden reappearance of his best friend Toni, after ten years absence, causes Chris to remember his past, to question some of his lifestyle decisions and to re-evaluate his life and marriage to Marion.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Female Frontal Nudity | Nude Model | Male Nudity | Male Frontal Nudity

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Chris
Emily Watson	...	Marion
Lee Ross	...	Toni
Elsa Zylberstein	...	Annick
John Wood	...	The Retired Commuter
Rufus	...	Henri
Amanda Ryan	...	Joanna
Jonathan Aris	...	Dave
Ifan Meredith	...	Mickey
Boris Terral	...	Jacques
Lucy Speed	...	Punk Girl
Bill Thomas	...	Middle-Aged Commuter
Bethan Fairbairn	...	Amy
Daisy Fairbairn	...	Amy
Del Bartle	...	One of The Subverts

Also Known As:

Metroland (Spain)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language.

Runtime:

105 min | USA:101 min

Country:

Spain | France | UK

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M (TV rating) | Germany:12 | France:U | Singapore:R(A) | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Quotes:

Marion: Anyway, I want it to be you that I make love to.
Chris: It's me! It's me, darling!
Marion: No, it's not. It's eight pints of lager with an erection.

Soundtrack:

Destroy the Hoi Polloi

The road more travelled...

I liked this movie. Its stars, Christian Bales and Emily Watson, shine with a refreshing innocence.

It is one of those pictures where you can regret the time wasted watching it, or reflect on what it means to settle for the suburban lifestyle with its daily commutes to the city, the crying baby in the middle of the night, the sometimes jaded sex. All the time knowing it will continue until you retire.

And to look back at the freedom of the young years in Paris with "sex in the afternoon" and not much money. Toni, played by Lee Ross, looking dissolute and hedonistic, blows back into the life of Christian Bales ten years later and tries to make him take the road less travelled by going around the world and living free and easy with no ties.

There are then a series of many flashbacks to the carefree years. I liked the way Chris takes the time to evaluate his current life. It is not all about duty and responsibility but choices too and there is a bit of a zinger in the last few scenes. 7 out of 10. A thoughtful adaptation of the novel.