Film Critique
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SUBWAY
So you want to sit down with a box of popcorn and a large iced soda, put your brain in neutral and cruise through yet another hour or so of mindless drivel????then don?t bother watching SUBWAY. While it lacks some of the colour and punch of Luc Besson?s later work (Fifth Element) it delivers complicated, though integrated plots by the dozen. On the surface it is a love story; that of a wannabe musician with a fetish for blowing up safes (Fred played by Christophe Lambert) and a bored socialite/housewife who feels trapped in a loveless marriage (Helena played by Isabelle Adjani). When Fred decides to grab some important papers from Helena?s safe after inviting himself to her birthday party, it leads to a merry chase through the streets of Paris and down into an alternate world??.that of the Metro. Here we meet an eclectic group of people who, for whatever reason, choose to live in an underground society. The main plot centres around Fred attempting to persuade Helena that he loved her at first glance, which she goes along with because she has nothing better to do. One sub-plot involves the frantic attempts of Helena?s husband and his henchmen to get the stolen papers back, another pits two bumbling officers (Batman played by Jean-Pierre Bacri and Robin played by Jean-Claude Lecas) against a bag-snatching Roller, seedily played by Jean-Hugues Anglade. Fred has been emotionally stunted, due to a car accident at age 5, which destroyed his voice and hence his chances to be in a band, but also eroded his faith in his father ??.he bet he could drive his car under a truck and won.? Through this film, he explores his feelings for Helena, his realisation that his songs can be sung by someone else ?It?s only mystery? and what it?s really like to live on the edge in a community populated by people who society have given up on. As the henchmen close in for the ?kill? the band that Fred puts together gives us another indication of where the ?power? comes from, ??.guns don?t kill people, people kill people?. Fred realises he has stepped over the line that society regards as ?acceptable behaviour? and that there is only one way out. Helena?s confession of love comes too late. Fred made his choices, as did Helena and all her fine jewels and her husband?s money can?t cushion her from the consequences.

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29-05-99