“What I find remarkable is that so much of the 18th century literature that I read is more accessible than reading your alternative weekly from ten years ago. People really aspired to write clearly.”

American writer-director

Whit Stillman is an American writer-director known for his films from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He was born John Whitney Stillman and became widely recognized for Metropolitan, released in 1990, which brought him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He also made Barcelona, The Last Days of Disco, Damsels in Distress, and Love & Friendship. His work is best known for its sharp dialogue and its attention to manners, class, and social life.