“Midnight in Paris” is a film written and directed by Woody Allen describing the enthusiasm, seduction, commitment and sense of belonging towards a contemporary city. Gil Pander, the protagonist visits Paris with his fiancée Inez on a business trip. Gil becomes obsessed with the beauty of Paris and believes that he can artistically perform better in his current world. The scene of the film captures various modern places like restaurants, cafes, historical buildings and parks that are presented to the audience. In the film, Allen features Paris as the most beautiful and significant city full of influence and power.
He portrays the dilemma of love revealed by Gil Pander and his lover. The film embraces predicaments of ultimate life as expressed by the characters argument about the past and present life situations. Woody Allen’s classic film compares to the story conveyed in the narrative “The Great Gatsby,” which features the relationship existing between illusion and truth in the past and the present. In “Midnight in Paris,” Gil contemplates how wonderful life was in Paris in the 1920s. He believes that his presence in Paris during those ages could make his life better and admirable as compared to his current situation.
His desire for existence during those times was aroused by his admiration for the famous artists because of their great works. As a result, he falls in love with the city of Paris and is determined to initiate his life there. In “The Great Gatsby,” the protagonist Nick Carraway explains his circumstances when he arrives in a new American society and his desire to achieve the “American dream. ” The same is revealed in Gil’s world, who believes that if he had been living in the 1920s, he would have shaped his art career and become famous. Woody Allen reveals fantasy portrayed by various adults in Paris.
For instance, Gil is obsessed by Paris of the 1920s, which for him symbolizes a golden age of literature and art. Throughout his life, he has been struggling with film making unaware of models to copy and imitate. He considers his business journey to Paris of great significance in life because the beauty of the 1920s will help him. Gil comes across such artists and spends most of his time with them trying to learn their ideas. The same characteristics are evident in “The Great Gatsby,” who aspires to become a wealthy merchant in America.
Nick is convinced that he has landed to his country of interest and that he will utilize the opportunity to the fullest (Woody n. pg). The setting of the film takes place in Paris, in an open sunny atmosphere that gives it a golden appearance. It captures most of the beautiful places that are attractive to every audience. The landscape appears green with great assurance o f a bright future ahead for those living in Paris. This makes the protagonist to fall in love with the city to extend that he forgoes taking part in the core activity he came to undertake. He finds comfort in making acquaintances with artists of the 1920s.
Allen compares Gils love for Paris to falling in love with a great woman, who makes a man feel powerful. Gil considers himself powerful in Paris and he is assured that the experience about life and literature that he will learn will enable him complete his novel successfully. Throughout the film, Allen tells the story through characters. He uses a narration point of view technique that makes the film objective. He gives more emphasis to the emotions and thoughts of the main character, Gil Pender, who is in a fantasy world. He compares the feelings of Gil and his fiancée Inez. He expresses the personal differences that exist between them.
He proves the couple as two different individuals with different perceptions. According to Allen, Gils’ interest is to become a writer in Paris while Inez wants to be in America with her rich parents The background music used by Allen in this film perfectly relays with information portrayed by characters and their stories. Like other Woody films, “Midnight in Paris” commences with a background Jazz music accompanied by violins and guitars, creating a melancholy tone that draws the attention of the audience. The music develops feelings of affection towards Paris because of its outstanding appearance that makes the city impressing.
In the film, Allen uses the environment as the background giving it a distinct appearance. Inclusion of a catchy background and the Jazz music makes the characters to fit perfectly in the love scene. As the film commences, it is clear that Gil is about to fall in love with the city of Paris, which he recons because he is aware that his dream shall come true (Woody n. pg). In the play, Allen portrays elements of romance shared by Gil and Inez. The couple shares a kiss on a bridge at Monet’s garden over a lily pond. Gil has a lot of affection for the city of Paris, which can be compared to a woman love.
He feels powerful with Inez beauty besides him. Allen reveals Gils romantic attraction to Paris through Inez. He represents the couple that is kissing in an open place and on a bridge that is used by all people to cross the pond. This is a clear depiction of the unhidden love for Paris that Gil cannot hide from the audience. Allen uses a golden vintage Peugeot that picks Gil at midnight and transports him to the “Lost Generation Party. ” The car is filled with adamant party-goers of the 21st generation. The vintage Peugeot transporting Gil to the party is old, connecting him to the Paris of 1920s, where he meets writes and artists.
He feels comfortable in the company of “a field of dreams” that he has been yearning in his life (Woody 294). The friends are in a bar and this makes him to leave the party to join people whom they can share artistic ideas. “Midnight in Paris” is a great film that expresses the clashing difficulties between reality and fantasy. Allen developed his story with sincerity, hope, cautious and confidence. I did not have any problems with the film because it employs clear elements of literature that makes it easily understandable. His combination of cynicism and nostalgia helps in systematic invention of the films plot.
Allen uses Gil as an example of the many artists, who were infatuated by Paris city during the ‘Golden Age’ in the 1920s. Gil’s confidence to achieve his dream represents individuals of his time who were yearning to meet the American dream. Allen used different themes in the film, especially nostalgia and romance, which are portrayed by various characters. He reveals the commonalities and differences that exist between generations that can all be learned through familiarity. He uses the city of love, Paris, to articulate that life cannot be paramount without romance and art.
