A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.
Director:
Peter HowittWriter:
Peter Howitt
From metacritic.com
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Title: Sliding Doors (1998)
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6 wins & 4 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Gwyneth Paltrow | ... | Helen | |
| John Hannah | ... | James | |
| John Lynch | ... | Gerry | |
| Jeanne Tripplehorn | ... | Lydia | |
| Zara Turner | ... | Anna | |
 |
Douglas McFerran | ... | Russell |
|
|
Paul Brightwell | ... | Clive |
| Nina Young | ... | Claudia | |
| Virginia McKenna | ... | James's Mother | |
| Kevin McNally | ... | Paul | |
|
|
Terry English | ... | Kind Cabbie |
|
|
Paul Stacey | ... | Man on Tube |
| Peter Howitt | ... | Cheeky Bloke | |
| Joanna Roth | ... | Suspicious Girl | |
| Neil Stuke | ... | Defensive Bloke | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (196) »
Storyline
In London, the public relation Helen is fired from her position in a PR company. While returning home, she does not catch the train in the subway. But in another possibility of her life, she catches the train in the subway. The story shows two parallel lives of Helen: in one life, she stays with her boyfriend Gerry, and in the other life, she finds that Gerry cheats her with Lydia and falls in love with James Hammerton. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Plot Keywords:
multiple outcomes | twist of fate | serendipity | parallel time | destiny |Taglines:
What if one split second sent your life in two completely different directions?. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 May 1998 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Dos vidas en un instante See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$834,817, 26 April 1998Gross USA:
$11,841,544Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$11,841,544Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Seven years separated that fateful near-death experience and the finished product. In between, there were 20 script rewrites, thousands of pounds of debt, and one nervous breakdown. "All I could do was stay in my flat in Fulham and cry and write the script for Sliding Doors," Howitt revealed. "The worst lasted about three months. Then I slowly began to get better. Now I'm really glad it happened." He also stopped getting his hair cut until he was done with the movie. See more »
James: Wait. Wait! Your friend Anna thinks I'm cute? Your friend ANNA thinks I'm cute? Shit, I just blew - wait
[looks at menu]
James:
See more »
Written by Patty Larkin
Performed by Patty Larkin
Courtesy of Windham Hill Group
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Peter Howitt got the idea for the film after almost getting hit by a car. He was late in meeting a friend, and innocently walking along London's Charing Cross Road. "I couldn't decide if I should run for the train or first call my mate at a public phone," Howitt recalled. "I impulsively dashed across the street, and was nearly hit by a car, and that brush with death got me thinking. Something inside my head thought, 'That's interesting. What if he had hit me then?' What are the knock-on effects, the domino effects."Seven years separated that fateful near-death experience and the finished product. In between, there were 20 script rewrites, thousands of pounds of debt, and one nervous breakdown. "All I could do was stay in my flat in Fulham and cry and write the script for Sliding Doors," Howitt revealed. "The worst lasted about three months. Then I slowly began to get better. Now I'm really glad it happened." He also stopped getting his hair cut until he was done with the movie. See more »
Goofs
When Gerry and Helen enter the pub, Gerry orders them a drink with ice but the drinks come neat (no ice). Later as the are getting a table, ice appears in both glasses. See more »Quotes
Helen: Look, James. Maybe I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry, I'm not being fair. You know, under normal circumstances, etcetera... You're really nice - and funny. My friend Anna thinks you're cute...James: Wait. Wait! Your friend Anna thinks I'm cute? Your friend ANNA thinks I'm cute? Shit, I just blew - wait
[looks at menu]
James:
- two eighty-five on the wrong girl!
See more »
Crazy Credits
The film's copyright year in the credits is 1997. See more »Alternate Versions
US version was cut for language by Miramax to secure a PG-13 rating. See more »Connections
Spoofed in Comedy Bang! Bang!: Andy Dick Wears a Black Suit Jacket & Skinny Tie (2013) See more »Soundtracks
Coming Up for AirWritten by Patty Larkin
Performed by Patty Larkin
Courtesy of Windham Hill Group
See more »
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This movie will make you think for years on end, Just that one little thing could change your life for good.
This movie is running to stories of Helen Quilley who has just been fired of her work place for drinking the night before has she rushes to the train station, while go down the stairs a little girl get in the way and she goes around girl and train door shut in face.
Then we see the movie rewind and she back on top the stairs this time mum pulls the girl way from wall so she can get past, just about got on to the train, in this scene we can she her on train also on outside train.
From here we see both side of stories, we see how life would have been if she did catch the train and we can also see what would have happened if she missed the Train.
The movie was well written and Gwyneth Paltrow is was outstanding in this movie.
8/10 ending was disappointed but it better then ending i was thinking of.