METROPOLITAN

US, 1990, 98 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Walt Stillman.

Metropolitan was written and directed by Whit Stillman. He worked in an illustrating agency and wrote this screenplay in his spare time during the 1980s. He married a Spanish wife and spent some time in Spain, working as a sales agent for some popular Spanish films. He was able to make Metropolitan as well as Barcelona, based on his experiences in Spain. His other feature film was The Last Days of Disco, based on his experiences of the clubs in New York City, especially 54. Apart from two episodes of Homicide, Life in the City, these are the only films that he has made.

The film is one of conversation and elegance. Friends during the various seasons of the year, meet in a Manhattan apartment for drinks, partying and conversation. They are from the upper class, they discuss their place in society, they play bridge, they discuss socialist themes, especially from the work of Fourier. There are four central characters, Nick who is particularly cynical, Charlie who is rather philosophical. Sally enjoys parties, Audrey makes the Jane Austen connection – and the film is considered a contemporary variation on Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. The catalyst for change is Tom, from a more ordinary way of life who is critical of theirs. However, he falls in love with Audrey.

The film is a variation on the kinds of films that Woody Allen made – but without the sardonic wit and the plot contrivances. While there is irony in this film, it is a much more ‘civilised’ film.

1. A piece of Americana? A Manhattan film? The upper class? The wealthy? Young people? Their ideologies? The ideologies of young people of the 1980s?

2. The director and his writing? First feature? His own experiences? His particular style – a very verbal film? The small budget, the lack of camera and other equipment, the decision to have a still style? The cast – amateurs and professional? Little known? Cinema models, Allen, Bergman, Rohmer?

3. The variety of the musical score, the background to the different characters, jazz and contemporary music, Gilbert and Sullivan, hymns?

4. The time setting: not so long ago?

5. The impact for an audience, depending on social class, for Americans, for a universal audience? Manners and morals – US Jane Austen style?

6. The Manhattan settings and atmosphere, the Plaza Hotel, interiors, apartments? Churches, salons and restaurants? New York by day, by night?The contrast with the exteriors – and the visit to the Hamptons, the house at the Hamptons? The film opening out in the latter part?

7. Costumes, décor and attention to detail?

8. The initial focus on Audrey, with her mother, pouting, going out, her self-image? The deb season? Escorts? The audience not seeing any of the dances? The parties afterwards? Sally and her group, her apartment? Audrey as the focus of the film? Her being different from the others? A nice heroine – with the touch of romance? And having to learn self-esteem?

9. Tom and his leaving the hotel, the encounter with Nick and the group, the discussion about the taxi, Tom going with the group even though he didn’t intend it? Being introduced to Sally and her group? Jane and Cynthia, Charlie and his incessant talking, Fred and his sleeping? The collages of the encounters in the apartment, the discussions, the groupings?

10. The topics of discussion, Charlie and his philosophy? Tom and his ideologies? Nick and the suave manner, information about society, gossip? Tom and his opposition to their stances? Yet gradually accommodating himself? The link with Serena, her many boyfriends, Tom being one of them? The issue of his letters – and the revelation that Serena had given his letters to Audrey, Serena reading them out? Audrey treasuring them?

11. The season continuing, dances every night, parties every night? Invitations? Tom expecting that this would continue – the others only being friendly for the season? His friendship with Charlie, concern about Audrey? The visit to Sally in the middle of the night, her going out, her brushing them off? Rick and his reputation, bringing guests to Sally’s? Listening to Rick, the encounter with Nick and the punching? Rick and his trouble-making – even though a baron?

12. The scenes with Tom and his mother, his irritation, taking the tuxedo back to the rental, his being too late, his becoming more and more involved with the group, Audrey and his not realising her love for him?

13. Nick as the centre of the group, his talk, his badmouthing Rick? The clashes? His eventually going to see his stepmother, the irony of his saying that he might be murdered and Tom was to investigate?

14. The importance of the game, the truth game, Audrey and her being asked a direct question? Tom and his being asked the direct question about Serena? Jane blaming herself?

15. The various members of the group giving advice? Cynthia and her wanting to break out? Her reputation – and going to Rick’s place? Fred and his becoming sober? Charlie and his giving up his intellectual talk, his devotion to Audrey, declaring himself, her response? Her later concern? Tom and Charlie and their worrying about where Audrey was, with Cynthia, their going to Rick’s?

16. The background of Rick and Serena, Tom and Serena and their meetings, the final break-up, Serena explaining about the letters? The change of attitude for Tom? Able to leave the relationship?

17. Charlie and Tom and their worry, their search, the hiring of the cars, discussions about licence, getting the taxi, the drive to the Hamptons, the taxi driver and his demands? Charlie’s reaction? Tom scouting the house?

18. Getting inside, intruding, the confrontation with Rick, his friend there? Cynthia and Audrey? Audrey demurely reading the book?

19. Audrey and Tom, the walk on the beach, a gradual understanding? Charlie and his observing? The film ending?

20. The portrait of young people, their particular class, concerns? The Christmas period in New York? A film of its period? Seen in the present perspective?