But Allen, a notorious pessimist disguised as a romantic, does not let Gil rest here. Gil falls for Adriana (Marion Cotillard), a beautiful muse living in the 1920s who has loved Picasso and Modigliani. At first, Gil thinks he has found heaven. But then, he and Adriana take a carriage ride through another midnight—and they land in the 1890s (the Belle Époque).
The city itself is the true star. From the opening four-minute montage of Parisian landmarks to the rain-slicked streets of Montmartre, the film is a love letter to French culture. Iconic filming locations include: midnight in. paris
When Gil walks alone at night, the streets are empty. Yet, every time he steps into the past, the streets are full of life, music, and argument. Allen visualizes the trap of nostalgia: we only remember the past as crowded, exciting, and meaningful, while we experience the present as lonely. But Allen, a notorious pessimist disguised as a
Equally important to the film’s atmosphere is its soundtrack. As per Woody Allen's style, the film uses no original score but is instead filled with vintage jazz tunes from the 1920s and 30s. The soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media in 2013, features the infectious "Bistro Fada" by Stephane Wrembel and classic tracks like Sidney Bechet's "Si tu vois ma mère". This jazzy, swinging music perfectly evokes the era of the Lost Generation and deepens the film’s nostalgic, romantic mood. But then, he and Adriana take a carriage