Metroland

1997 Drama

An unexpected visit causes a man to wonder what path he should have taken in life in this drama. In 1977, Chris (Christian Bale) and Marion (Emily Watson) are a staid married couple living in a working-class community near the outskirts of London, where the Metro tube line dead-ends. While Marion is reasonably happy, Chris is bored and restless, and he often daydreams about how his life could have been different. Chris and Marion first met in Paris in 1968, when revolution was in the air and they were both footloose bohemians exploring the world. Chris was briefly in love with Annick (Elsa Zylberstein), a wild, beautiful, and high-spirited young woman, but he married Marion instead, and he frequently wonders if he made the right choice. One day, Chris receives a telephone call from his old buddy Toni (Lee Ross), who was his best friend back in his days in Paris. While Chris has joined the working class, Toni is still following his muse around the world, drifting through Europe, America, Africa, or anywhere else the breeze takes him. Toni is visiting England and invites Chris to leave Marion behind and join him in his travels. Already in an unsure state of mind, Chris finds himself calling practically every aspect of his life into question -- he even wonders if Marion might be attracted to Toni, whom she's never cared for. Metroland was adapted by Adrian Hodges from the novel by Julian Barnes. more..

Director: Philip Saville

Starring: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Lee Ross, Elsa Zylberstein, Rufus

Reviews

  • It's the rare portrait of a happy marriage that is honest about the complex currents of desire, and the drama is beautifully played by Bale, who gawks with soulful sweetness, and Watson, who does her most piercing work since "Breaking the Waves."

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

  • There are a lot of movies about escaping from the middle class, but Metroland is one of the few about escaping into it.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • A sexy, moody comedy that plays like a dreamy comic novel.

    Peter Stack - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • Bale and Watson make most of the film more interesting and watchable than it might otherwise be, finding flesh and blood in a script that isn't always equal to their talents.

    - The Boston Globe

    26 April 2013

  • This slight story of youthful dreams and adult compromise is bolstered by finely modulated performances from the three leads.

    - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

Awards

No awards