
Live Film Special: Metropolitan w/James Marriott
From Past Present Future by David Runciman
April 8, 2026 · 1h 1m · Season 16 · Episode 279
About this episode
David Runciman discusses the film Metropolitan with James Marriott, exploring themes of youth, culture, and the urban bourgeoisie.
Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Regent Street Cinema in London: David talks to author and journalist James Marriott about Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan, which dissects the lives, loves and reading habits of a group of well-to-do young New Yorkers during deb party season. It is a film about being young and feeling old and fearing that you don’t have a future any more. Is it all over for the UHBs – the urban haute bourgeoisie? Has history left them behind? Or can one more drink, one more after-party and one more conversation about Jane Austen show them the way to a better tomorrow? Join us on Friday 17th April at the Regent Street Cinema in London for the next film in our spring and summer season: a screening of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut followed by a live podcast recording with David and director and campaigner Beeban Kidron. Tickets available now https://bit.ly/3O5rSEY And find details of all our upcoming film events here https://www.ppfideas.com/events You can find out everything you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus merch, events and full lists of all episodes and PPF+ bonus episodes on our website…
People in this episode
Host: David Runciman
Guest: James Marriott
Topics covered
- film analysis
- youth culture
- urban bourgeoisie
- literature
- social commentary
Keywords
- Metropolitan
- James Marriott
- David Runciman
- film discussion
- urban haute bourgeoisie
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Metropolitan, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Places: London
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