Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a 2011 romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen.The plot centers on a small group of Americans visiting the French capital for business and pleasure. The protagonist, a screenwriter, is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his fiancée and their divergent goals due to his magical experiences in the city beginning each night at midnight.

Plot

Gil and Inez travel to Paris as a tag-along vacation on her parents' business trip. Gil is a successful Hollywood writer but is struggling on his first novel. He falls in love with the city and thinks they should move there after they get married, but Inez does not share his romantic notions of the city or the idea that the 1920s was the golden age. When Inez goes off dancing with her friends, Gil takes a walk at midnight and discovers what could be the ultimate source of inspiration for writing. Gil's daily walks at midnight in Paris could take him closer to the heart of the city but further from the woman he's about to marry.

Review

Midnight in Paris is one of the most successful films of Woody Allen’s career thus far. The film begins with a montage of photos of the ever beautiful and timeless Paris. For approximately four minutes, there is absolutely no dialogue, but rather instrumentals being played over the displayed images of the city’s most attractive, tourist-visited spots. This enables the viewer to really get a feel for Paris and its beauty.As the movie progresses, it’s evident that Gil and Inez have less in common and spend their time in Paris with others, Gil with Adriana and Inez with Paul.


The overall message of this charming fantasy becomes clear during one of the most captivating final scenes, when Gil and Inez break things off. Allen expresses that nostalgia is a trap and without art or romance, life is not lived to the utmost. Although the film takes place in the city of love, lust or love at first sight is not the recipe for a long lasting relationship.