"Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen

^{*SPOILER ALERT - I will not intentionally try to give away the plot of Midnight in Paris but, the intention of this hub is to discuss the movie's content. If you have not seen the movie and do not want to learn about the plot of this movie then I would suggest reading this hub after you have seen the movie.}

I highly recommend seeing Midnight in Paris by, Woody Allen. It was released on May 11, 2011 as a limited engagement. It showed at the Cannes Film festival and is now showing at more theaters around the country starting on June 10, 2011. In Denver the film is showing at both the Independent Theaters and the Mainstream Theaters. It is perfect for the Romantics at heart and those who appreciate Literature or just appreciate Woody Allen.

This film is what I like to term magical realism. There are elements of the film that rely on the wonderment of imagination for the audience as well as the character in the movie. This aspect of the film is the delight and surprise of the story when the main character is struggling to deal with the life he is currently living.

Magic realism is defined as follows:

[A] literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy. ~Oxforddictionaries.com~

Gil is a writer who is in love with the idea of the Paris of the 1920's. The 20's in Paris were an age of American artists like: Fitzgerald, Hemingway, (Ezra) Pound, (Gertrude Stein) etc. Several of these artists are depicted in the film much to the surprise of the main character Gil.

The idea of the 20's in Paris was an escape for Gil from his struggle with the novel he wants to write and the fiance that doesn't support his decision to move to Paris to be a novelist. She wants the house in Malibu with a Hollywood life. There is a lot of tension between these two characters throughout the film that causes Gil to withdraw.

The surrounding idea of the film is the idea that another time and place would be a better time to live in. For Gil it is the 1920's but, he soon discovers that in the 1920's there is one who would rather be living in the era of the Belle Epoche which is somewhere around late 1800's to pre-WWI. This realization that those living in the 20's would rather live in another time is one that ultimately changes Gil's perspective. The desire to live in another time and place is called chronocentrism.

To be chronocentric is to believe that a certain time and place is better than any other. This is the main problem Gil faces. This belief causes him to be passive in his own life and also the reason his fiance marginalizes his beliefs to others. It is the striking contrast between Gil and his fiance that keep them from any real intimacy however, when he does try to engage his time and place he is going against a pedantic antagonist whom his fiance respects.

The movie can be enjoyed at any level. The nostalgia of Paris is a common theme among artists, literary and the like but, Woody Allen challenges that idea. He opens the door of Paris to new wonder and interpretation which, is much better than sighing over the Paris that will never be again. It is much like the Romantic Era in history. It was a definable time in art, literature, philosophy and belief but, rather than saying only Romantics can live in that time and place I rather think that they are fine right here. We need a little romantic sentiment every once in awhile.