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becoming madame, film, France, french culture, french style, Life in Paris, Midnight in Paris, Paris, Travel
What a tribute to the exquisiteness of a city, to her heritage and history, her role as seductress and custodian of talent and artistic expression throughout the centuries. The opening montage alone proves the film the work of an unabashed Francophile. Written and directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is one part the story of a man’s love of Paris and his personal struggle to free himself of a life he has built on one continent but to which in another continent he now finds himself a slave – the very undercurrent, funny enough, of my own life five years ago. The second part of the story speaks to themes like the romanticism of life and of history and of culture through the lens of a Francophile and his unbridled attraction to a Paris that once was.
The plot is a simple one, in line with the classic Woody Allen style. The complications and plot diversions we find in a Christopher Nolan film are bleakly absent in Allen’s dialogue and narrative compulsion. But Allen was never about those types of films. Allen has built his career on an exploration of raw human relationships, their emotional connections to human surroundings, and the superficial script we all write and create about our own lives which eases its continuation, rendering it bearable, if not the much more hoped for enjoyable.
Gil, our protagonist, is a screenwriter from L.A. who has developed his career half by chance and half by talent toward a lucrative position as a writer-for-hire in Hollywood. In the process, Gil has met and fallen in love with Inez, a wealthy businessman’s daughter, a “pseudo-intellectual” of whom we know comparatively little except that she counts herself built of better stuff than Gil in almost every sense imaginable, save for bringing home the bacon.
We meet these characters in Paris on a pre-wedding holiday with Inez’s parents where Gil revisits the city of his stolen past. Gil once wanted to be a writer, a novelist, a real writer as he describes it, before he made it into the studio limelight as a screenwriter; yet he gave up that dream in pursuit of success. Now that he has obtained his monetary and prestigious ambitions, he wants to move back to Paris and complete the novel he’s been struggling for some time to master.
Enter the theme of romanticized history. Gil is fascinated by the Paris of the 1920s (as I am); he considers it the Golden Age of art and literature and culture and especially of Paris. He glorifies it as the artist’s seat of some of the best writer’s American literature has ever known. During the Roaring 20s, Paris was, after all, home to Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein (Kathy Bates), Eliot, Faulkner as well as a revolutionizing generation of artists and musicians like Cole Porter, Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker and Salvador Dali (Adrian Brody). Through some stroke of magic, as the clock of the Sacré Coeur strikes midnight, a time continuum opens up and transports Gil back into his coveted 1920s Paris. Here he meets his heroes of the literary and artistic realms. He visits Gertrude Stein’s salon, which in real life was situated on a small street in Saint Germain just a few step from the jardin Luxembourg, with Hemingway and overhears Picasso describing one of this now-famous paintings. The subject of this newest masterpiece is Adriana (Marion Cotillard). As the most recent lover of Picasso, former love of Modigliani, apprentice to Coco Chanel and future lover of Hemingway, Adriana is the muse that opens Gil’s eyes to his mismatched union with his fiancée, Inez.
The evident nature of the fiancés sour connection is painfully evident to the audience from the second scene of the film. Gil is, however, less receptive to the signs. I sympathize with Gil as I was once much like him: having achieved a certain success I’d set out to attain, I found myself in an engagement of little sense, a position I’d placed myself in by omission and ambivalence, and no longer wanting any of the fruits of my work. Many “big red signs” went up over the six months before I called it all off trying in vain to tell me I was making a giant mistake. But, like Gil, I saw things clearly when I was ready to open my eyes, not a moment before.
Adriana develops the romanticized history theme a little further by yearning for la Belle Époque. Gil, of course, being from 2010 idolizes Paris of the 1920s. Adriana, being of the 1920s, pines for an even earlier period, the years surrounding the turn of the century. The Belle Époque is generally thought of as the years between 1880 and 1910. This was another time of extraordinary artistic achievement in Paris.
Traveling together from the 1920s to la Belle Époque, Adriana and Gil meet Degas and Rodin, who himself thinks the Renaissance was the time of great artistic achievement rather than the Belle Époque. Meanwhile, questions of the grass as greener and the impossibility of human contentment slide under the audience’s conscious radar.
Adriana and Gil, through their travels in the 1890s and 1920s, go to parties at Drouot, represented during the Roaring Years as a taxidermist’s dream with stuffed bears and peacocks and lions covering the floor. Drouot is today the most famous and reputable auction house in Paris, the Christie’s of France. The transgenerational couple then go to Maxim’s in the Belle Époque, now a famous relic of Parisian nightlife which for more than a century has reigned over the Parisian soirée and hosted the who’s who of Paris.
Back in modern-day Paris, Gil’s father-in-law, a stereotypical American businessman, self-proclaimed anti-Francophile, hires a private investigator to track down where Gil disappears to every night. Suspicious of Gil’s infidelity, Father-in-law is hoping for some hard evidence to pry his daughter away from what he sees as an inappropriate match. The investigator is played by a well-known French comedian and actor, Gad Elmaleh. Other French stars play small roles in the film including French First Lady, Carla Bruni, as the Rodin Museum tour guide and letter reader. It might seem strange to our American sensibilities to think of Michelle Obama or Laura Bush’s counterpart accepting a role in a Hollywood film. (A documentary, perhaps. But Hollywood? We haven’t seen that since Reagan and even then it was well before his political years.) But then again the French are much more ‘live and let live,’ laissez-faire with their celebrities than us Americans. They don’t much mind what they do with their own time.
Midnight in Paris highlights the best Paris has to offer. Here are some fun tidbits. The film opens in Monet’s house in Giverny not far outside of Paris where the painter’s inspiration for the Water Lilies still blossoms beautifully every spring. A little later on in the film, the eight large Water Lily paintings are strolled by and admired in L’Orangerie museum. The hotel where Inez and her family are staying, Hotel Bristol, is one of the finest five-star hotels in Paris with a three Michelin star restaurant called the Epicure. Not far down the road is the Palais de l’Elysee, the French White House or 10 Downing Street which also just so happens to be the same palace that was built for Madame de Pompadour, the Sun King’s greatest mistress. The wine tasting took place on the roof of Hotel Maurice, another five-star hotel located practically in front of the Louvre and next to Angelina’s, a delightful Belle Epoque café where you can sip the most exquisitely rich hot chocolate in Paris. Inez and her mom walk along the Place de Vendome when they are looking for jewelry. In Paris, the Place de Vendome is the Fifth Avenue of fine jewelry and home of the Ritz Hotel. Finally, as day fades into night, Gil walks along the Seine and looks up at the sparkling Eiffel Tour. Here we know we’re in the heart of Paris.
Making a film about Paris is not as easy as it may appear regardless of the picturesque backdrop. So many stereotypes exist about both Frenchmen and Americans that they must be touched upon with humor and grace. Allen handled them with tactic and poise. Americans at a table in a fine restaurant jump up to greet unexpected friends making a loud and disruptive scene – a typical, if lighthearted, French stereotype of Americans. Another is the agitation the dog in the arms of a man at a neighboring table causes the father-in-law who is put off by the uncleanliness of it all. Even after several years, I have only just gotten used to seeing dogs in laps and under tables in French restaurants.
The film is a blithe tribute to Paris as present beauty and past inspiration. Taken as such, the audience can appreciate an enjoyable ninety minutes of entertainment. What the plot lacks in substance and originality, it makes up for in scenery and cinematography. Yet, the script wants for depth and strikes a false cord in many scenes between Rachel Adams’ Inez and Owen Wilson’s Gil. On the whole, we feel as if we’re watching a play, beautifully set mind you, but nevertheless scripted to the point of overkill and over-acted. Stereotypical characterizations of Hemingway and Dali are amusing but destroy any possible emotional connection the audience would create with the characters. Of course, this is all classic Allen. And perhaps it’s just me but I feel that I’ve seen Owen Wilson play this part many times before (think Marley & Me). I found him funny and even sweet at times, but superficial and unattainable all the same.
Marion Cotillard, on the other hand, is the bright star of the film. Her performance is radiant and engaging. We fall in love with Adriana almost as deeply as we fall in love with Paris all over again.
TBM said:
I haven’t seen this one yet, but I can’t wait to!
Jox said:
I was waiting for you to say something about this and finally, here it is. 🙂 Well said.
Woody Allen’s original screenplay and its simple nostalgic translation into film was just brilliant. Only Paris could bring such sublimity. Although I think Owen Wilson was an odd contrast. I read that Allen had to adjust the script for him turning the male lead from a New York playwright to an LA author. And I agree, Marion Cotillard could not get any more stunning in this film! 🙂
Sixtine and The Little Things said:
I am a French expat in Canada and I went to see this movie with my husband. I loved it. It really felt like traveling. I was actually surprised to hear people speak English at the end of the movie ! Thanks for sharing !
Becoming Madame said:
Lovely blog! So nice to come across someone who is in the exact opposite situation as myself. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll keep checking in on your posts as well. PEI is fabulous! Just gorgeous. And funny enough my husband’s favorite name for our first daughter is Sixtine. All my best to you and yours!
Sixtine and The Little Things said:
Thank you ! All the best you as well. Hope Paris treats you well !
ps: No wonder your husband likes the name Sixtine, it is fabulous 😉
HK Auteur said:
I was thinking if I should write a Midnight in Paris review.
Having read yours, I kind of want to revisit thinking about it. x)
t.on.air said:
Gotta like this post! You know why.
beyondpaisley said:
I thought this movie was an amazing love letter to Paris; I sort of found myself not really caring about the plot (admittedly, it’s hard for me to care about either Owen Wilson or Rachel McAdams) so long as the scenery continued to be gorgeous. In that regard, it never lets you down. And…even though I saw it months ago, I still laugh if I think about the scene with Dali and Man-Ray, because it was that goooood.
Angela said:
This film was one of my favorites last year. I love the post! I have plans to do one of my own, but from a different angle, and will link to yours as a good review.
Becoming Madame said:
Thank you.
Milla said:
I think it’s important to take this film for what it is: fantasy. I thought the film showed Paris as a city of great beauty and dreams. Some films force you to address real issues and others offer you 90 minutes of relaxation. This was the latter, and if perceived as such, I think it is pretty good.
Becoming Madame said:
I agree. I was thinking today actually of mentioning at the end of the post a little p.s. about how the film is in fact a cliché and it beautifully illustrates that cliché, so it does its job well.
Kimby said:
I was going to mention this after reading your Stein post the other day, but didn’t, because the ending cried for MORE — the movie, not your post! (I wanted it to go on and on — both!) Still, the film was enchanting, and all the more reason to love Paris, for what the city and everyone who has sought refuge (or inspiration) there has contributed to society, literature and thought.
Becoming Madame said:
I couldn’t agree more, beautifully put!
sorella & me said:
Absolutely loved Midnight in Paris too. I’m a sucker for movies from from 40’s and 50’s so I loved the element of going back in time with this film – and being set in Paris just topped it off! Great post, thanks for sharing!
russelllindsey said:
Reblogged this on Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde and commented:
I may just have to check this out.
EmilyintheGlass said:
I saw Midnight in Paris when I was fresh off the plane (a couple days) from Paree last summer. Having spent two years there and then being in the midst of transitioning back to American life, tears kept coming to my eyes throughout the movie. Tears of joy and nostalgia, but most of all, tears that said, “you must go back.”
I must go back. 😉
theincurablelibertine said:
i’ve been dying to see this movie, i can’t wait! it looks amazing and your post is magical! thank you!
HK Auteur said:
My review of Midnight in Paris, in which you inspired x)
http://hkauteur.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/midnight-in-paris-by-woody-allen/
Becoming Madame said:
Very much enjoyed reading your point of view!
The World is my Curtlefish said:
It must be rather fun to watch a movie knowing the setting so well. I have not yet seen it so skipped the plot spoilers, but I read enough to know I now want to see it.
Jen Reif said:
Loved Midnight in Paris. Why? The beauty of the city, the characters of Hemingway and Gertrude Stein, the latter was portrayed perfectly. Charming story, fabulous cinematography, sweet and romantic. It is apparently Woody Allen’s most successful film of his career (worldwide sales). So that’s saying something. I find it so charming that I saw it twice in the theaters and just purchased a copy. It’s delightful!
Lu said:
I enjoyed this film greatly – only I didn’t enjoy Owen Wilson in it. Like you, I feel I’ve seen this role of his over and over again; in fact – in every Owen Wilson movie. It’s a bit of a shame, really. I’d still watch it again, though and enjoyed watching the characters espouse the greatness of a previous era, whichever that may be. It begs the question of whether we are really improving the quality of our lives as time marches forwards.
Vivien L. said:
I have not watched this movie, partly due to the fact that I really dislike Owen Wilson and I thought having him in this movie would really mar an otherwise lovely movie about my fave city. After reading your review, I am reconsidering…
24/7 in France said:
Loved the movie (have seen it twice)!
fgassette said:
A wonderful post. Thanks for visiting my blog.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Becoming Madame said:
Thank you kindly!
friendlytm said:
I like your movie review. Midnight was my favorite movie last year. There was an exhibition at sfmoma during that time. We went to both twice, just because we like them!
ejhowle23 said:
Consider reviewing our novel, The long road to Paris. You can find more information on our website and blog, http://www.thelongroadtoparis.com or blog. http://www.thelongroadtoparis.wordpress.com
thank you for your interest.
J&E Howle
P.S. We lived in Paris from 1993-98. and come back every year. We are here now.
Becoming Madame said:
Hello! We actually met at the Paris Writers’ Workshop! I’d be happy to review your book! Be in touch soon. Take care.
ejhowle23 said:
OK, but you don’t have your name on your blog, so I don’t know who you are. I’m happy to get a book to you for review. We are going to Zurich the weekend-13-15 and then back to Paris until we leave for US on Friday, July 20. Can we meet up?
Becoming Madame said:
I’d love to meet up. I’ve sent you an email. Take care!
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A French Frye in Paris said:
Great post! As an expat in Paris I loved this movie from frame one and identified with it a lot. I also got a kick out of the snobby anti-Paris parents, and the know-it-all pseudo-intellectual guy who won’t give it a rest.
I immediately recommended this movie to anyone who was even remotely into Paris, and incidentally I posted about my unexpected little connection to the movie if you’re interested: http://wp.me/p1dHNL-1SPR35
Thanks for taking us through some of the key locations of the movie. If I could make just one modest correction, the church where Gil hears the bells and is picked up each night isn’t the Sacré Coeur, but the church of St-Etienne-du-Mont in the 5th arrondissement. But its true that Allen chose a very Montmartre-looking street for this scene!
Becoming Madame said:
Thank you! I love your post about the movie – your spot!! 🙂 And thank you for the info on the exact location of the church in the film. It’s so nice to come across another expat here in Paris. Take care.
ejhowle23 said:
I hope you will have time and space to review the book, The Long Road to Paris. While not all about Paris, you will recognize scenes there.
Hopefully of interest to anyone who loves Paris.
Becoming Madame said:
I absolutely will! I have read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Am a little behind at the moment with my review writing, but will definitely do that asap. Hope you are well!
ejhowle23 said:
thanks, so you place your reviews on GoodReads? Someone slammed it there so we could use another positive one. Working hard on book 2. Night Watch. Nearly done with the first draft. Would like to have it to the agent before we go sailing this winter.
Live is good.
musikwala said:
Really enjoyed this film! I generally like Woody Allen’s work. Good review. 🙂
investinyourselfblog said:
Loved your review & really enjoyed this film! It was a great touch to weave in your own personal experiences that related to the movie’s plot. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
pobept said:
Thanks for visiting my Tiny Blog.
I hope that you find time to make a few more posting’s on your blog.
Becoming Madame said:
Your blog is anything but tiny. I very much enjoy your articles on bio/organic food.
Renee said:
This review is as brilliant as it is extensive. Having visited Paris many times and seen the film, i could not agree more with this perspective. From an American who has lived extensivley in Europe, Renee
Becoming Madame said:
Thank you very kindly indeed, Renée. It is fun to live in a place that figures significantly in a film. It’s always fun to poke around afterwards and see how places were changed and brought back to a time past. All my best on your travels!
T Hollis said:
Planning to visit Paris in the Spring.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day!
Becoming Madame said:
Oh excellent! Do let me know if I can be of any help in the planning. I have a few posts up on different things to do, places to stay, restaurants etc. Hope you have a wonderful holiday too.
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