Metroland

A London suburbanite (Christian Bale) questions his middle-class contentment when a footloose chum (Lee Ross) comes to town. Despite a comfortable life with his wife (Emily Watson), the young hero’s mind wanders back to his bohemian days in Paris and an affair with an alluring Frenchwoman (Elsa Zylberstein). Meanwhile, his pal—jealous as much as disdainful—sneers at him for selling out. Writer Adrian Hodges and director Philip Saville give a straightforward, no-frills adaption to Julian Barnes’ novel, aided by intelligent performances. The women are particularly well cast: It’s easy to believe that a man would never forget Zylberstein, and that he’d count his blessings married to Watson.