denizov Review of Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Woody's love letter to Paris and to art in general

[9/10 · 15 October 2016]

Let me start with this: generally I don't like Woody Allen's movies for various reasons.But this one is definitely an exception. I enjoyed every minute of it. Maybe because I am particularly interested in the 1920s and have written about the Americans in Paris at that time. The humour is very subtle, the romantic charm of Paris is present in nearly every scene of the film. There is a very nostalgic mood, however it does not depress,but rather fascinates. Above all, it is a celebration of artistry, of creativity which Paris has always made to flourish for people from all over the world. We meet the artistic celebrities of the age: Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dali etc. all of whom were charmed by Paris for certain periods of their lives. I also liked the juxtaposition reality vs. fantasy. The main character chooses the fantastic world of the imagination rather than the drab reality. It is remarkable that he chooses to remain in Paris at the end of the movie.