Leaving Metropolis (2002) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The story centers on the Main St. Diner, a bustling restaurant that serves as the main meeting point for the characters. The local newspaper, the Winnipeg Tribune, also plays a role in the story, as media coverage amplifies the characters' personal decisions into public events.

• winnipeg
• main st diner
• setting
• location
• manitoba

The Main St. Diner is the central hub where the story unfolds. Owned by Matt and Violet, it brings together artists, journalists, and regulars. The diner represents a tight-knit community space where art, conversation, and daily life intersect, making it both a physical setting and a symbolic meeting point for the characters' intersecting lives.

• main st diner
• restaurant
• setting
• community

The Art and Truth theme examines how David's paintings push boundaries and expose hidden desires, fears, and loyalties. When David decides to exhibit his provocative collection, the artworks become mirrors that reveal what characters have kept hidden. The public revelation tests relationships and honesty, showing how art can destabilize false facades.

• art
• truth
• paintings
• exhibition
• honesty

The Love and Boundaries theme centers on the secret romance between David and Matt, which complicates loyalties and threatens Violet's stability. As their relationship develops in secret, conflicts arise from desire colliding with social expectations and personal histories. The theme explores how characters negotiate secrecy, risk of exposure, and ultimately redefine boundaries to seek healthier paths forward.

• love
• affair
• boundaries
• secret relationship
• loyalty

The Identity and Acceptance theme focuses on Shannon's journey as a transsexual person navigating health challenges and societal judgment. Alongside Kryla's sensationalist reporting, the film explores how LGBTQ+ lives are perceived, judged, and sometimes exploited. Characters confront stigma while seeking acceptance and authenticity, questioning societal tolerance and compassion.

• identity
• acceptance
• transsexual
• lgbtq
• stigma
• society

The Illness and Mortality theme revolves around Shannon's declining health due to HIV, which delays their surgery and shapes the emotional stakes for everyone around them. The looming possibility of death casts a shadow over moments of joy and love, accelerating decisions and fueling fears. The film closes with cautious hope that resilience and honesty can outlive despair.

• illness
• mortality
• hiv
• death
• grief
• health

David is a well-known artist played by Troy Ruptash who feels creatively blocked. He takes a job as a waiter at the Main St. Diner to spark inspiration, where he forms a close bond with diner owner Matt. As his paintings gain attention through Kryla's press coverage, David ultimately decides to exhibit his work, challenging taboos and testing his relationships.

• david
• troy ruptash
• artist
• painter
• main character

Shannon is David's roommate and friend, played by Thom Allison. A pre-op male-to-female transsexual, Shannon's HIV-positive status has delayed their surgery. Throughout the film, Shannon's health deteriorates, anchoring themes of truth, loyalty, and mortality. Their presence adds emotional weight and highlights the film's exploration of identity and acceptance.

• shannon
• thom allison
• transsexual
• roommate
• hiv

Matt, played by Vince Corazza, is the co-owner of the Main St. Diner and David's love interest. Though he once toyed with drawing comics, he now works at the diner. Matt develops a secret relationship with David but fears his wife Violet's reaction. After the art exhibition creates fallout, Matt ultimately leaves town as the drama resolves.

• matt
• vince corazza
• diner owner
• love interest
• affair

Violet, played by Cherilee Taylor, is the co-owner of the Main St. Diner and Matt's wife. She remains unaware of the secret affair between David and Matt. Violet attends David's art exhibition and questions how the relationship impacts her marriage. As the drama unfolds, she eventually sells the diner and moves on as the characters navigate their changing lives.

• violet
• cherilee taylor
• diner owner
• wife
• marriage

Kryla, played by Lynda Boyd, is a blunt columnist for the Winnipeg Tribune who tracks David's career and helps propel his story into the press. Her disapproval of David's relationship with Matt adds social pressure and heightens the stakes around honesty and public scrutiny. Kryla's journalism creates conflict throughout the film.

• kryla
• lynda boyd
• columnist
• winnipeg tribune
• journalist
• press