Whit Stillman’s 1990 Film Metropolitan Reviewed in 2026
9 reported
A review of Whit Stillman’s 1990 film Metropolitan published in 2026 describes the movie as being about New York City debutantes and their interactions, set in the mid-1980s with some scenes referencing the 1970s. The article notes the absence of social media and cell phones in the film, with characters looking at and talking to each other, dressing up, and engaging in social smoking. It observes that there is no hook-up culture, casual sex has social implications, women are portrayed as vulnerable, and men occasionally punch each other. Characters debate Jane Austen, Lionel Trilling, and Buñuel, and women can be branded as “sluts.” The review points out that nerds had not yet taken over the world, and there is no Jane Street, though one scene shows neon lights spelling “ELON” in the upper right of the screen, which the author calls a coincidence. The article notes the absence of Asians, Jews, and openly gay characters in the group, and states that people of modest income had big apartments while the wealthy were not very rich but could afford black tie and white tie attire. The review concludes by asking whether people were happier and better off back then, and whether readers would choose to attend a debutante ball or stay home and scroll Twitter.
What’s reported
The film Metropolitan was released in 1990 and is about New York City debutantes.
The movie is set in the mid-1980s, with some scenes hearkening back to the 1970s.
There is no social media, no cell phones, no hook-up culture, and social smoking is present.
Characters debate Jane Austen, Lionel Trilling, and Buñuel.
Women can be branded as “sluts” in the film.
One scene shows neon lights spelling “ELON” in the upper right of the screen, described as a coincidence.
No Asians, Jews, or openly gay characters appear in the group.
People of modest income had big apartments; the wealthy were not very rich but could afford black tie and white tie attire.
The article asks if people were happier and better off back then, and whether readers would attend a debutante ball or scroll Twitter.
Key figures
Whit Stillman (director of the film Metropolitan)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
