Written and
directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in
Paris follows the story of Gil (Owen Wilson) and his wife Inez (Rachel
McAdams). Debuting in 2011 at the Cannes Film Festival, it details how Gil gradually
becomes neurotic in his writings, often fashioning his work off his own life,
as most evident in his conversation with Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates) acting as
his editor. She praises Gil’s efforts as a writer but questions why the
protagonist never realizes that his fiancé is having an affair. One can infer early
on in the movie from Inez’s undue infatuation with Paul and other elements of
mise en scene that Gil’s finance has cheated on him. So this conversation scene,
coupled with the introduction of Paul and the final confrontation with Inez
help illustrate Gil’s connections with his characters. He identifies with his
protagonist so much that he accepts the advice of his editor in his own
personal life. It’s almost as if Gil cannot be satisfied until his
fictionalized character can become “completed.” If this does not demonstrate his defining
himself as a writer I do not know what does. The writers he meets along the way,
such as Hemingway (Corey Stoll), F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston) and Cole
Porter (Yves Heck), help him to gain confidence and take his life in the
present by the reigns instead of falling victim to the appeals of the past. His
relationship with Adriana (Marion Cotillard) helps Gil to come to this
conclusion. While in the present, he reads Adriana’s diary from the past
confessing her love for Gil and her wishes to be wooed by him. Gil escapes into
the past to be her and they travel further back through time to the 1890s.
Adrianna loves that era, believing it to be the Golden Age of Paris. When she
is offered a job designed ballet costumes, she asks Gil to stay with her, but
Gil decides to accept his life in the present for what it is and they part
ways. This is another example of how writing, through his heroes and nostalgia
for the past, helps define Gil’s character in his present.
I agree that he could not finish his novel until he felt that his character is completed, but that can not happen until he clears up all the things that are hindering him in his real life, such as his unhealthy relationship with his fiance and his fear of quitting his job and becoming a serious writer. Once those things happen, and Gil learns to accept that he has to live in the present and not the past, he is able to finish up his book, and start living his life.
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting to see that even in his book, it was clear to everyone else that his fiance was cheating on him. He sat there writing a story based on his life, and did not see the connection until it was pointed out to him.
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