Subway Stories (1997)

This offbeat HBO production features a series of 10 short films representing the unpredictable true experiences of those varied, brave souls who dared to test the waters of the New York City subways. Jonathan Demme's SUBWAY CAR FROM HELL follows the journey of an unassuming man on his way to work. Craig McKay's THE RED SHOES deals with the issue of panhandlers and whether they are who they say they are. Bob Balaban's THE 5:24 watches a Wall Street broker learn a valuable life lesson from a seemingly apparent everyman. Patricia Benoit's FERN'S HEART OF DARKNESS plays on one white woman's paranoia and prejudice. Seth Rosenfeld's THE LISTENERS teaches a girlfriend to pay attention a little more closely. Lucas Platt's UNDERGROUND is a young male's fantasy come to life. Alison Maclean's HONEY-GETTER allows a sexually harassed young woman the chance to get revenge. Julie Dash's SAX CANTOR RIFF ingeniously exhibits the variety of music the underground has to offer. Abel Ferrara's LOVE ON THE A TRAIN is another erotic fantasy about a married man who embarks on a silent affair with a random passenger. Finally, Ted Demme's MANHATTAN MIRACLE is a hopeful tale about a man who is about to watch a pregnant woman jump in front of an approaching train. At turns humorous, ironic, and poignant, SUBWAY STORIES provides an entertaining glimpse into the unpredictable underbelly of New York City.