Synopsis

After losing her job, Helen rushes home by subway, but a closing train door divides her life into two possible paths. In one version, she catches the train and discovers her boyfriend's infidelity sooner; in the other, she misses it and remains unaware. The parallel stories follow both outcomes as Helen confronts betrayal, chance, and the possibility of a new beginning.

Factoids & Trivia

• The screenplay grew from an incident in which Peter Howitt nearly got hit by a car while hurrying through London. The experience led him to consider how one small event might create completely different consequences.

• Howitt spent seven years developing the project. During that period, he reportedly rewrote the script about 20 times, accumulated debt, and experienced a serious period of depression.

• Funding for the film collapsed during development. John Hannah helped revive the project after mentioning the screenplay during a meeting with producer Sydney Pollack, who became interested and helped secure financing.

• Principal photography took place in London from April 1 through May 28, 1997. Tube scenes were filmed at Waterloo, Bank, and Fulham Broadway stations.

• Several recognizable London locations appear in the film, including Hammersmith Bridge, Albert Bridge, Leinster Square, Old Spitalfields Market, and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

• The soundtrack combines Britpop and alternative pop with established songs by Elton John and newer material by artists including Aqua, Dido, and Aimee Mann. Aqua's "Turn Back Time" later became closely associated with the film after its music video incorporated footage and imagery from it.

• Queen guitarist Brian May wrote "Another World" after receiving a copy of the screenplay from Howitt. The song was not used in the film because of a financing-related record-company issue, but May retained it for his 1998 solo album of the same name.

• The film was originally rated R in the United States before being released with a PG-13 rating.

• Made for an estimated $6 million, the film earned more than $58 million worldwide and became one of the better-known examples of the late-1990s romantic comedy built around an alternate-reality premise.