Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Whit Stillman's Metropolitan Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Q&As At Lincoln Center
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 6, 2015
Modified Aug 6, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 6, 2015
Modified Aug 6, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
What better way to spend a weekend than in the air-conditioned comforts of a movie theater, enjoying an exquisite study of UHB life in Manhattan circa the winter of 1990? This weekend, Gothamist favorite Metropolitan—written and directed by Whit Stillman—is being re-released, with celebratory deb partiesscreenings at the Film Society at the Lincoln Center. And as a bonus, Stillman and many cast members—including Sally Fowler herself—will be on hand.
If you've somehow gotten this far without seeing the film, it follows Tom Townsend, an Upper West Side college student who is swept into a wealthy group of young Upper East Siders—the Sally Fowler Rat Pack—as they trudge through debutante season. Within the confines of Sally's townhouse, they gossip, debate class lines, and spew forth wine-fueled thoughts on "Urban Haute Bourgeoisie" and Fourierism.
METROPOLITAN trailerby Gothamist
[Stillman] has made a film Scott Fitzgerald might have been comfortable with, a film about people covering their own insecurities with a facade of social ease. And he has written wonderful dialogue, words in which the characters discuss ideas and feelings instead of simply marching through plot points as most Hollywood characters do."
Not very much happens in "Metropolitan," and yet everything that happens is felt deeply, because the characters in this movie are still too young to have perfected their defenses against life. They care very deeply about what others think of them, their feelings are easily hurt, their love affairs are really forms of asking for acceptance.
The film earned Stillman an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay (that year, Ghost won) and a place in the annals of independent filmmaking—the production cost $200,000!
At a few of the Film Society screenings, there will be discussions with Stillman and cast members—here's the line-up, which include the actors who played Tom, Nick Smith, Sally, Audrey Jane Clarke and RICK VON SLONEKER:
Friday, August 7, 7 p.m.
Metropolitan: Q&A with cast members Ed Clements, Chris Eigeman, Dylan Hundley, Carolyn Farina, Will Kempe, and Allison Rutledge-Parisi at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
Saturday, August 8, 7 p.m.
Metropolitan: Q&A with director Whit Stillman and cast members Ed Clements, Chris Eigeman, Dylan Hundley, Carolyn Farina, Will Kempe, Bryan Leder, and Allison Rutledge-Parisi at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
Sunday, August 9, 7 p.m.
Metropolitan: Q&A with director Whit Stillman and actor Dylan Hundley at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
#TBT moment: I first watched Metropolitan as a 14-year-old, thanks to PBS's American Playhouse, and identified so keenly with Audrey Rouget, the girl whose crush on Tom is so obvious to everyone except Tom, of course. I was smart enough to tape it on my VCR and I kept the VHS tape until I finally gave up my VCR (and got the Criterion Collection DVD). The film is truly one of the most intelligent and heartfelt depictions of being young.
Tagged
film society of lincoln center
metropolitan
whit stillman
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .