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Metroland (1997)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  21 August 1998 (UK)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 2,333 users   Metascore: 53/100
Reviews: 40 user | 32 critic | 24 from Metacritic.com

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.

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Title: Metroland (1997)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Chris
...
Marion
...
Toni
...
Annick
...
The Retired Commuter
Rufus ...
Henri
...
Joanna
...
Dave
...
Mickey
Boris Terral ...
Jacques
...
Punk Girl
Bill Thomas ...
Middle-Aged Commuter
Bethan Fairbairn ...
Amy
Daisy Fairbairn ...
Amy
Del Bartle ...
One of The Subverts
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Storyline

After ten years absence Toni, Chris's best friend, suddenly reappears in London to bring chaos and doubt into Chris's calm, tranquil, slightly boring, predictable life. Chris starts to remember his carefree youth as a photographer in Paris when he lived with and enjoyed a torrid affair with Annick. It was also in Paris that he first met and fell in love with Marion. The temptations and pressure exerted on Chris by Toni to return to their former carefree life of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll soon starts to have an impact on Chris's marriage. He starts to question his values, his lifestyle choices and his relationship with Marion and even suspects her of starting an affair with Toni whom she dislikes! Eventually circumstances come to a head and Chris is forced to decide whether to follow Toni back to the hedonistic, irresponsible life of his youth or face the harsh realities of the present and stay with Marion. Written by Mark Smith <msmith@osi.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

friend | love | marriage | photographer | sex | See more »

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| |

Language:

|

Release Date:

21 August 1998 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

Keskellä elämää  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$26,682 (USA) (9 April 1999)

Gross:

$299,463 (USA) (4 June 1999)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

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Did You Know?

Goofs

When sitting in the Pub talking about sleeping with "other" women and having sex with the same person for so long , the song heard on the juke-box in the background is Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing". The year is 1977 (the year of Punk) yet this had not been written or recorded until mid 1978. See more »

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.
See more »

Soundtracks

"Alison"
(1977)
Composed and performed by Elvis Costello
Published by Sideways Songs
Administered by Plangent Visions Music Ltd.
©1977 by Elvis Costello Ltd.
Licensed from Demon Records Ltd.
See more »

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User Reviews

A man questions his life's direction when an old friend comes for a visit.
10 April 1999 | by (Jersey City, NJ) – See all my reviews

If Francois Truffaut were still alive today I think Metroland would easily fit into his oeuvre. A film about a person taking stock of himself at the crossroads, Metroland introduces us to a suburban utopia where people go to work everyday, take their kids to school, and wash their cars on the weekend. Christian Bale seems to accept this life until an old friend rings him up wanting to revisit the old times. Throughout the film we see what Bale's character could've been and how much happier he thought he was. Metroland's assertion is to accept life for what it is and not what it is not. Not everyone's cup of tea as evidenced by Bale's boyhood chum but being the film's setting takes place during the late seventies in England right before the rise of Thatcherism may be a subtle stab at what the middle class of the film will come to accept. Conformity over confrontation may ultimately be Metroland's theme no matter how much it hurts us to admit it.


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