John Whitney Stillman is an American writer-director and actor who remains best known for his 1990 film Metropolitan. Not So Long Ago is a book providing unique perspectives on Stillman’s output, bringing together essays by critics and filmmakers as well as archival documents, a career-spanning interview, and personal writings.
In five films, from Metropolitan through to Love & Friendship (2015), Stillman has established himself as the prince of contemporary American comedy. Betting on the elegance, intelligence and love of his characters rather than their derision, Stillman’s comedic genius lies in his clever, snappy dialogue and clear-cut direction, which focuses on the lives of his characters, the speed of their thoughts and the subtlety of their emotions.
Fireflies Press, 176pp, 11cm x 20cm, paperback, 2023