Besson’s second feature after Le Dernier Combat, Subway is a stylish urban odyssey which helped to consolidate Besson’s growing reputation for unique, visually creative output. Fred, (Christopher Lambert), a charismatic safe blower, realises he is in love with rich society girl Héléna (Isabelle Adjani) when he is in the midst of trying to blackmail her. To complicate matters, he is also on the run from gangsters and the police, and is forced to take refuge in the tunnels of the Paris metro. Here, in the brutal and surreal world beneath the city, a strange collection of petty criminals and people with a reason to hide exist. Gradually, Fred’s life begins to interweave with theirs as, rediscovering forgotten dreams, he decides to form a band. However, Fred cannot forget Héléna and he becomes determined both to win her love, and drive his band to success – with the police and gangsters all the while in hot pursuit.
