Midnight in Paris: TAP’s Movie of the Month for June 2015
Each month in TAP, we select a Movie of the Month to help prepare our students for their overseas trip. This month we’re starting to prepare for our 2016 adventure in France and the Benelux countries, so we’ve selected the Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris, to watch first. The big question, of course, is what is this movie about?
Well, this is one of those movies that is just about so much. First, it’s about the idea that being somewhere else is better than being here. That’s an idea that’s near and dear to TAP’s heart, and it’s one of the reason why we’ve continued to travel the world with students for the ten years now. It’s not that home is a bad place, it’s that home isn’t the only place, and history books aren’t the only way to learn. In the movie, an American author named Gil Pender (played by Owen Wilson), who is vacationing in Paris while trying to complete his novel. In the movie he visits a bunch of places that we’ll see on our trip (the Palace of Versailles, Monet’s gardens in Giverny, the used book stalls along the Seine River, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower) and many places we could visit during our free time (The Musee de l’Orangerie, the Rodin Museum gardens, and the Moulin Rouge).
Gil’s trouble is that creatively he’s stuck, but suddenly he’s magically transported back in time to the 1920s in Paris. In TAP, we’re lucky enough to travel the world, but how amazing would it be to travel the world and visit different time periods too? That’s what Gil gets to experience.
It’s also sort of about the famous question, “If you could have dinner with any three people from history, living or dead, who would you choose?” Gil gets to experience that. The 1920s in Paris was a time in between WWI and WWII when authors and artists from all over the world settled in the City of Lights, forming an incredibly creative community we call The Lost Generation. Gil gets to meet authors like Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein, Faulkner, Barnes, and Eliot along with artists and musicians like Dali, Cole Porter, Picasso, and Matisse, who hung out and talked about art and literature while sitting in cafes, drinking in bars, and dancing the night away in Paris’ hottest clubs. What better place for Gil to get transported to?
It’s also about the very simple idea that there’s just something magical about Paris. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to a lot of places, but there is no place that has quite the same magic as Paris. You guys will know that soon. There’s just something unbelievably special about Paris, and I’d be a fool to try and put into words what that is. Far greater writers than me have made that effort and have failed, so you’re just going to have to wait and see what that feeling is like first hand next year.
For the time being, though, you can watch Gil travel back in time, meet his idols, and stroll through the magical streets of Paris. Every time I’ve been to Paris since seeing this movie, I can not help but hope a magical limo will transport me to different times in Paris’ past. This movie, unlike any other, captures a little bit of that magic that you feel what strolling through the City of Lights.
While you’re watching the movie, here’s a little Lost Generation guidebook to help you better understand and connect with what’s going on.
The Lost Generation
The term “Lost Generation” refers to the generation that grew up and became adults during World War I. The phrase was popularized by the American author Ernest Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises, which was written about the group of “lost” artists (writers, painters, actors, musicians…) who found one another in 1920s Paris. Hemingway claims the phrase actually comes from his mentor, another American author living in Paris during that time, Gertrude Stein.
Hemingway kept journals during the time he was living in Paris, and after his death, those thoughts were published as a memoir called A Moveable Feast. If you really want to know what it was like to be Hemingway or one of his friends, that book would give you incredible insight into their lives. Some of the cafes and bars that Hemingway talks about in the book are still there today, and, if you do your research, maybe you can have lunch where Hemingway ate.
In A Moveable Feast, Hemingway explains that Stein heard an auto mechanic call that generation a “generation perdue,” or a lost generation. Stein, who was a great deal older than the younger authors and artists she mentored, said to Hemingway, “That is what you are. That is what you all are… all of you young people who served in the war. You are a lost generation. In this context, lost doesn’t mean missing, but disoriented, wandering, aimless, or directionless – which is recognizing the fact that there was a great deal of confusion and lack of direction among the young men (and women) who served in WWI in the years following the war.
Below is a very good video that explains the existence and influence of this Lost Generation.
Corey Stoll in Midnight in Paris alongside the real Papa Hemingway. Interestingly enough, Stoll is set to play the villain, Yellowjacket, in the next Marvel movie – Ant-Man.
Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway, who is originally from Oak Park, Illinois (near the Brookfield Zoo – and you can still visit two of the houses he lived in there), plays a key role in the movie, and is probably the most famous member of this “lost generation” of artists.
During his lifetime, Hemingway wrote seven novels, six collections of short stories, and two nonfiction books. Several more pieces (like A Moveable Feast) were published after his death. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 and is considered one of the greatest American writers ever.
He was born and raised right here in Illinois, and soon after graduating high school, he enlisted in the military to help in WWI. Working as an ambulance driver near the front lines, Hemingway was seriously injured. These experiences became his novel, A Farewell to Arms.
Shortly after the war, he married and moved to Paris. He worked as a journalist, but also found himself amongst other American, British, and Irish authors and artist known as the “lost generation.” During this time, he wrote and published The Sun Also Rises. Later, living up to the concept of being “lost” he found himself reporting (and on some levels) participating in the Spanish Civil War. He turned that experience into For Whom the Bell Tolls (Mr. Curtis’ favorite Hemingway book). He made his way to London, then back to France. Acting as a reporter, he was there for both the D-Day landings at Normandy and later, the liberation of Paris.
Later he became a big game hunter in Africa, lived in Cuba and in Key West, Florida, eventually retiring to Idaho, where he committed suicide in 1961, just weeks before his 62nd birthday. Throughout his life, four marriages, and countless adventures, he always appeared to be “lost.”
If you’re anything like me, and I imagine a lot of you are, you’ll want to check out some of Hemingway’s (and the other members of the Lost Generation’s) favorite spots while we’re in Paris. Many of them still exist. Check out this short video of some of those famed spots and were to find them during our free time in modern Paris.
Of course, this isn’t required viewing, but you might want to know a bit more about Hemingway. This biography should get you ready for your trips, and have you wishing, just like Gil (from the movie) you could travel back to Paris of the 1920s too.
Yves Heck from the film and Cole Porter.
Cole Porter
Cole Porter appears in Midnight in Paris for only a few moments, but his music is heard throughout and plays an important role.
Despite the wishes of his wealthy family in Indiana, Cole Porter was an American musician, composer, and songwriter. He began writing for Broadway in the 1920s, and by the 1930s he was one of the most successful composers around.
Before that, in 1917, when the United States entered WWI, Porter moved to Paris to work with the relief organizations. He joined the French Foreign Legion and served in the war in North Africa. During his military service, he had a portable piano that he could carry on his back so that he could entertain the troops.
After the war, Porter lived in a luxurious apartment in Paris, where he held extravagant and scandalous parties. Porter’s “lost”-ness was part the artistic lifestyle his family did not want him to pursue, part the aftereffects of the war, and part the fact that he was homosexual in an era where his lifestyle was not widely accepted here at home.
Porter eventually married Linda Lee Thomas, a rich American divorcee. She was well aware of his homosexuality, but his success and status in society gave her better social position, and she enabled him to hide his true self publically, where his lifestyle was not accepted.
He was very successful in the 1930s and 40s, but a horseback riding accident in the late 30s left him severely crippled. After the deaths of his wife and mother in the early 50s, Porter’s injury became too much for him. His leg was amputated in 1958, and he never wrote music again. He died six years later, having been isolated from all but his few closest friends for those final years.
For a little bit more about Porter, check out the video below – his life in Paris begins at about the 10:30 mark, and it continues into the first few minutes of part two of the video (which will have a link at the end of this video). Be sure to watch long enough into part two to hear some of Porter’s timeless show tunes like Anything Goes, I Get a Kick out of You, and Let’s Fall in Love.
Allison Pill & Tom Hiddleston and Zelda & Scott Fitzgerald. Does Hiddleston look familiar to you? He’s Loki in several of the Marvel movies – one of two actors that play famous authors in this film and villains in a Marvel movie.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald was an American author, from Minnesota, who wrote both novels and short stories. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest American authors of all time. He and Hemingway formed a close friendship during their years in Paris.
Fitzgerald, along with his wife, Zelda, spent a great deal of time in Paris in the 1920s. He befriended Hemingway and several other members of the American expatriate (means citizens of one country living in another) community. During his time in Paris, Fitzgerald wrote countless short stories for American magazines and also worked on his novels The Great Gatsby (which Hemingway read an early draft of) and Tender is the Night (which is partially about his time in Paris with Zelda).
Although he is now considered one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, Fitzgerald’s his first novel was the only one that sold well enough to support the extravagant lifestyle that he and Zelda lived. The Great Gatsby, now considered his masterpiece, did not become popular until after Fitzgerald died.
Because he lived beyond his means, and due to the medical care that Zelda later needed, Fitzgerald was constantly in money trouble. He often took loans from his agent and friends. The financial mess, his wife’s mental illnesses, his own alcoholism, and the fact that his work was poorly received by critics of the time and did not sell well, all took it’s toll on Fitzgerald.
Zelda Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, was also an author. Zelda was brought up in the American south in a wealthy family who felt Scott was not successful enough for her. This motivated him to move forward from selling short stories to magazines to writing his first novel. However, Scott’s friend, Ernest Hemingway, felt that while the couple lived in France, Zelda intentionally sabotaged Scott’s writing by luring him away from work with parties and alcohol.
Their marriage suffered greatly under the weight of financial troubles, his alcoholism, and her mental illness. For much of the 1920s, the two lived unhappily, Scott focused on his writing, but not progressing as much as he’d like with Zelda distracting him – and Zelda bored. They both mined their relationship for writing material and Zelda’s 1932 novel Save Me the Waltz was a semi-autobiographical look at their declining relationship. The book itself didn’t help matters, as it touched on many of the themes and incidents Scott was drawing from for Tender is the Night, which he worked on for years and finally published in 1934.
Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in 1940. He hadn’t seen Zelda, who was in and out of mental health facilities for several years. She died in a fire in a mental hospital in 1948.
Here’s a little bit longer, but totally fascinating video about Scott and Zelda’s tragic life together. Of course, it’s not required, but it is well worth your time.
Academy Award winner Kathy Bates and Gertrude Stein.
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American author, poet, and playwright. She served as sort of the matriarch for the lost generation of American expatriate artists living in Paris in the 1920s. She hosted salons (small parties for artists and writers to discuss art, music, literature, and culture) at her home and Paris every Saturday. Many of the younger writers and artists living in Paris at the time saw Stein as a mentor of sorts, so the regular Saturday salons were an effort to make sure she had the rest of the week to work on her own writing instead of being constantly interrupted. Regular attendees of the salons (which are shown in the movie) included Picasso, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, Ezra Pound, Thornton Wilder, and Henri Matisse – among many others.
Stein’s most famous work is The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, which isn’t really an autobiography at all. Alice B. Toklas was Stein’s long time romantic partner. The two lived together in Paris for almost forty years. During Stein’s salons, Toklas would act as hostess and entertain the wives and girlfriends of the authors and artists Stein would work with. The book is a look at the years the couple spent in Paris told through Alice’s eyes.
Stein is arguably the most important person in all of this. Here’s a mini-biography of her.
Sonia Rolland and Josephine Baker.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American-born actress, singer, and dancer. She was sometimes known as the Black Pearl or the Bronze Venus. Baker, who was African-American, refused to perform for segregated audiences in America, so she moved to France, became a French citizen, and became incredibly famous and successful in Paris. She was considered to be the most successful American entertainer working in Paris. Not only were the French more tolerant of homosexuals (like Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, and Oscar Wilde) in the 1920s than Americans were, but there wasn’t the racial segregation that we had here in the States.
Baker’s act, which was unique and quite risque, became the talk of Paris. She began starring in movies, as well as dancing on stage, and she became a muse of sorts to other artists like Picasso, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Langston Hughes, and Christian Dior. In the movie, Gil sees her for just a few moments dancing at Chez Bricktop’s, a nightclub.
Take a look at an incredibly short video that shows Baker’s most famous performance, the twerk… I mean the Banana Dance.
Marcial Di Fonzo Bo and the real Pablo Picasso.
Pablo Picasso
One of Spain’s most successful painters and sculptors, Pablo Picasso spent most of his adult life living in France. He is considered one of the best and most influential artists of the 20th century. Known for helping found the cubist style, the collage, and many other artistic movements, Picasso achieved international fame.
During the 1920s, Picasso was living in Paris with his wife, who introduced him to the high society and social life of wealthy Paris. This wasn’t Picasso’s style, he preferred to live a more isolated life, so a wedge was driven between the two. Eventually, Picasso started an affair with a younger woman and his marriage fell apart. This was just the first in a series of affairs, as Picasso had four children with three different women. He never divorced his wife, though, as it would have been too expensive for him to do so. Their marriage ended when she died in the 1950s. He eventually remarried and continued to work until his death in 1973. Gil meets Picasson at Gertrude Stein’s house while he is showing Stein a new piece of art, and his mistress, the fictional Adrianna looks on.
Here’s a video about Picasso, his time in France, and some of the works you can see while we’re in Paris. The modern art museums aren’t in the itinerary, though, so you’ll have to plan to see it during free time if it’s something you want to see. That’s definitely something you can do, you just have to plan ahead.
Tom Cordier as Man Ray with Oscar Winner Adrian Brody as Salvador Dali alongside the two friends in real life.
Salvador Dali
Another Spanish artist living in Paris at the time was Salvador Dali. Dali had achieved a small amount of success in Spain, but in the late 20s he traveled to Paris where he was introduced to Picasso, whom he idolized. Picasso had heard of Dali through mutual friends and took the younger artist under his wing.
Dali is best known for his surrealistic work, like The Persistence of Memory (which you probably know as the painting with the melting clocks), but he was also a sculptor, a filmmaker, and a photographer. The movie portrays his collaboration with filmmaker Luis Bunuel, and it was during the making of that film that Dali met his future wife, Gala. The two of them lived in Paris, as the surrealist movement grew and Dali became more and more famous, until WWII broke out, then the two moved to the United States.
The Dali scene in Midnight in Paris is one of my favorite’s in the movie. It perfectly shows you that Dali was a weird dude. There’s a museum of his work in the Monmartre neighborhood of Paris, and that’s another option for your free time. The video below gives you a sneak preview of that museum.
Man Ray
Emmanuel Radnitzky, known better as Man Ray, was an American artist who lived much of his life in France. He was an important contributor to the surrealist movements (like Dali), and considered himself a painter and photographer. He moved to Paris in 1921, eventually meeting (and photographing) James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, and other important figures. He befriended Picasso and soon became a regular figure at Stein’s Saturday salons.
Actor David Lowe and poet T.S. Eliot.
T.S. Eliot
An American poet, considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, T.S. Eliot spent most of his adult life living in Europe. He spent a year in Paris in the early 1900s, near the end of his college years, and returned often. His time in Paris influenced his writing a great deal, even his most famous poem, which is often considered the best poem of the 20th century, The Waste Lands.
During one trip in 1920, Eliot met another writer, the Irishman James Joyce (another writer who lived in Paris). It’s said that Eliot didn’t like Joyce at first, and that Joyce didn’t think much of Eliot’s poetry – however, the two eventually became very close friends, and Eliot visited Joyce everytime he went to Paris. Joyce, for whatever reason, is not included in the movie.
Gil meets him one night while getting into the magical limo, and Gil gushes about one of Eliot’s most famous works, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.
Shop owner Sylvia Beach and James Joyce at the original Shakespeare and Co. bookstore.
James Joyce
Okay, I just said James Joyce isn’t in the movie, Midnight in Paris, but he is mentioned by Gil (Owen Wilson) in a key scene. Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his novels , Ulysses, A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, and Finnegans Wake.
Joyce finished writing Ulysses while living in Paris. He was just starting to gain a bit of fame, so he was able to stay in Paris and socialize with the other literary figures living in the city – he spent a great deal of time at the bookshop, Shakespeare and Company (more on the bookshop below) to meet other writers. Many people consider Ulysses among the greatest novels ever written, but it was banned in England, Ireland, and America and no company would publish it. Instead, Sylvia Beach, owner of Shakespeare and Company published the first edition of the classic.
Joyce left Paris in the early 40s when the Nazi occupation of France began. Beach also closed the shop during the occupation (don’t worry, it’s back).
Apparently Henry Matisse is blurry in real life and in film. On the left is actor Yves-Antoine Spoto, on the right the real Matisse.
Henri Matisse
French artist, Henri Matisse, was known primarily as a painter, but also worked as draughtsman, a printmaker, and a sculptor. Along with Picasso, he is thought to be one of the one of the most influential artists of his time.
Gertrude Stein, along with her brothers and sister-in-law, was a great supporter of Matisse and bought a lot of his work to display in her home. In some ways, it was Matisse who was responsible for starting the regular salons. Matisse was so proud of his work being displayed at Stein’s home that he would bring people to see it regularly. It became somewhat of a nuisance, and Stein was unable to get any of her own work done, so she started the Saturday salons to give everyone a chance to socialize and share on her schedule.
In the early 1900s, Matisse met Picasso at one of the Saturday salons (he also meets Gil at Stein’s house). The two artists quickly became great friends and rivals. Matisse’s style was much more realistic and detailed than Picasso’s but the two men, along with other artists they socialized with at Stein’s salons, were a great influence to one another.
Some of Matisse’s work is on display at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, another free time option. Here’s a brief video someone took of some of his work.
Actress Emmanuelle Uzan (we couldn’t find a good picture of her in the movie) and the real Djuna Barnes.
Djuna Barnes
Djuna Barnes was an American poet, playwright, journalist, artist, and short-story writer. Today, she is best known for her novel Nightwood, but in the time period Midnight in Paris takes place in, she was more known as a journalist. In the early 20s, an assignment from an American magazine took her to Paris, where she lived for the next decade. During this time she interviewed numerous artists and authors living in Paris, which led to a close friendship with James Joyce. During this time she also published a novel, a collection of poetry, and numerous short stories. Gil dances with her briefly in one scene in the movie.
Adrien de Van and filmmaker Luis Buñuel.
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel was a Spanish filmmaker who worked in Spain, Mexico and France. He is thought to be a huge influence on the art of filmmaking, especially short film. Critic Roger Ebert called Buñuel’s first film “the most famous short film ever made.” It was a piece that he co-wrote and co-directed with Salvador Dali. In the movie, when Gil meets Buñuel, he makes some suggestions about a future film about a dinner party that the director should make – eventually the filmmaker did make that movie.
The video below is the movie, Un Chien Andalou, that Bunuel and Dali made together. It is probably the weirdest movie I’ve ever watched, and I understood almost none of it. Enjoy.
More Famous Names
If you pay close attention, you’ll hear a few more famous names tossed out during the movie. Jean Cocteau was a French writer and filmmaker, Archibald MacLeish was an American poet, Juan Belmonte was a Spanish bullfighter, Jack Turner was an abstract painter, H.M. Brock was a British painter, Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian painter, Coco Chanel was a French fashion designer, and William Faulkner was an American novelist.
Shakespeare and Co.
Shakespeare and Company is the name of an independent bookstores on Paris’ Left Bank, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was owned by Sylvia Beach, an American living in Paris, and opened in 1919. During the 1920s, it was a hangout for writers and artists like Ezra Pound, Hemingway, Joyce, Ford Madox Ford, Fitzgerald, Stein, and Man Ray.
Customers could buy or borrow books, and often young authors could live/sleep in the store in exchange for stocking the shelves and working on their own writing. Beach supported writers, and she offered many books that were banned in the US and UK. In fact, Joyce’s biggest book, Ulysses, was originally published by Beach, because it was banned everywhere else. The store plays a big part in Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.
The store closed in 1940, during the German occupation, and (at least this version of it) never re-opened.
In 1951 a former American soldier named George Whitman opened another English-language bookstore on Paris’s Left Bank. The store was named Le Mistral. Much like Shakespeare and Company, the store became a hangout for American and British poets and writers living in Paris, writers like Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. When he opened, Whitman had intentionally modeled his shop after Beach’s and, in 1964, after Beach’s death, Whitman renamed his store “Shakespeare and Company” in tribute to the original (it’s okay, he had Beach’s blessing – they had become close friends).
Now run by Whitman’s daughter, Sylvia Beach Whitman (yes, she was named after the original owner), the bookstore is still there today. Sylvia Whitman runs the store the same way as her father – it still has sleeping facilities, with thirteen beds for young writers, and there are regular poetry readings, writer’s meetings, and other activities. The bookstore does play a small roll in Midnight in Paris, and it is one of Mr. Curtis’ favorite spots in the city.
More Famous Places
One of the first places Gil visits in the 1920s (where he saw Josephine Baker dancing), was Chez Bricktop’s, owned by an America woman named Ada “Bricktop” Smith from 1924-1961. Bricktop’s was an iconic club and one of the most important cultural hotspots of the 20th century. Sadly, Chez Bricktop is long gone.
The scene where Gil first meets Hemingway was set at Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor, a historic restaurant in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The restaurant’s interior looks almost the same as it did 100 years ago, and the menu has been virtually unchanged for longer than that. Back in the ’20s, Hemingway really did hang out there, as did Joyce, and later Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac. Polidor is still there, and perhaps you could have lunch or coffee where Hemingway and Fitzgerald debated and argued about their work and about Zelda.
The Church of St Etienne du Mont is a real Parisian church where Gil was picked up each night at midnight by the magical limo. The church can be visited during our free time, and maybe Mr. Curtis will take a select group of literature enthusiasts to be there for the chime of midnight just in case something magical happens.
Gil, Inez, and their friends tour the Musee Rodin early in the movie. Interestingly enough, the tour guide in those scenes was played by Carla Bruni, an Italian/French actress who just happened to be the French First Lady at the time of the filming. She married French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008. The museum, however, was originally the Hotel Biron, where Rodin lived and worked. When he died, he left his work to the French people, on the condition that it be displayed at the Hotel Biron. You can visit the Rodin Museum during free time, but there is an admission charge. The gardens Gil walked through are accessible also – admission to Rodin’s gardens is just €1.
Gertrude Stein’s scenes take place at the writer’s real home, 27 rue de Fleurus. It’s here that Gil also meets Picasso and Adriana. Unfortunately, the house isn’t open to tours, but there is a plaque above the door that commemorates the Stein’s time in Paris.
Free time can be spent at the Musee de l’Orangerie, where Gil sees several of Monet’s water lily paintings. The museum is also home to works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso.
____
Late in the movie, Gil is able to travel further back in time to a time known as La Belle Epoque (The Beautiful Era). There, he meets three more artists from Paris’ past – this time the 1890s.
Near the end of the movie, Gil meets Vincent Menjou Cortes as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, François Rostain as Edgar Degas, and
Olivier Rabourdin as Paul Gauguin.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a French painter who was drawn to the colorful life of Parisian theatre and music, including places like the famous Moulin Rouge. He painted exciting and provocative pictures of the life of that time period. He is among the most famous of the post-impressionist painters (along with Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin).
Paul Gauguin
Gauguin was a French artist who was not well recognized until after his death. Today we appreciate his experimental use of color and style that were very unique to the time period. His work heavily influenced later artists like Picasso and Matisse.
Edgar Degas
Degas was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, and drawings. Many of his most famous works deal the subject of dance. He is also thought to be one of the founders of the impressionist style, but he preferred the term realist. His portraits of people are most famous for the realistic looks on their faces, indicating a psychological complexity.
_______________
I hope you all enjoy Midnight in Paris as much as I did the first time I saw it. I hope it makes you dream about strolling down the quiet streets of Paris. I hope it makes you want to travel back in time. I hope it gets you excited about visiting Paris in just over a year. It’s a fun movie that gives a unique insight into a different time in Paris, and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be quietly hoping that somehow our plane takes us to 1920s Paris by mistake.
Each of the movies we select are chosen for that very reason, to give you different perspectives on the people, history, and culture of the places we’re visiting. This movie is definitely well worth a few hours of your time before we fly to Europe.
So, sit back, relax, grab some macarons and a croque monsieur, and watch our Movie of the Month, Midnight in Paris, along with the other videos we’ve posted today. You can find Midnight in Paris free at some online streaming sites, or check the local libraries or video stores if you prefer. If it costs money to rent, we suggest you team up and watch it with a few other students in the group.
We ask that all of our France/Benelux travelers take the time to watch our Movies of the Month, then come back here to discuss the movie, the history, and the impact this story had on the people and places we’ll visit. In your response, we’d like you to tell us first what you thought of the movie and why. Second, tell us three specific things you learned from watching this movie (and reading this post) that you think will make your experience in Paris even better than it would have been. The longer and more in depth our discussion gets, the better it is for all of us.
Keep in mind, also, that several books written by the Lost Generation authors are on your Around the World in 80 Books assignment, including Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast and Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. If there are different books, poems, plays, or short story collections you heard about while reading this post or watching the videos that you’d like to read, please go for it. Those will count towards your Around the World in 80 books assignment too.
Minooka TAP 
I thought the movie was great. I especially liked the characters in the different eras and their varying personalities. The sets in the beginning made Paris look like the perfect place from a fairytale; but as the story went on, the people from each era were displeased and felt the need to stay in the past era. I understood this more when Gil explained how the artists in every era looked up to artists in the past and wanted to live with them. One thing I learned from the movie that will make my experience in Paris better is don’t take the little things for granted. Gil simply went on a midnight walk and ended up discovering something amazing. Another reason my experience will be better because of the movie is sometimes the best things are the things that turn people away. Most people don’t like walking in the rain, but Paris when it’s raining is the most beautiful. The last thing I learned from the movie that would better my Parisian experience is appreciate everything. When VanGogh painted a portrait of the beautiful woman, everyone in that era considered it a failure. Everyone in the next era loved it and it was considered beautiful.
Nice reflection, Jasmin!
I like that you are thinking about appreciating the little things. For me, none of the major landmarks are my favorite parts of Paris – I just enjoy walking around and soaking in the atmosphere.
Quick correction, that was Picasso that painted the picture in the movie, not Van Gogh.
What do you think you saw in the movie that you’d most like to see in person now? Why did you choose that?
In person I would most like to see the lights of the city from the streets. I would like to see this because I imagine this being the most beautiful part of Paris.
I agree with you Jasmin, we shouldn’t take the little things for granted, when we are in Paris it won’t be about waiting for the storm to pass but to learn to dance in the rain, because Paris is most beautiful when it’s raining. If we are able to do that we will make the best of our experience in Paris.
Now you’re getting it.
I agree Jasmin and Graham, being in Paris will be as special as we make it. If we complain that nothing’s good then what do we have? We have to take it all in and appreciate every little bit, even if it’s not what we planned. Sometimes the best things happen when it’s not planned. My sister went to Greece for her TAP trip and she was able to explore places with Mr. Curtis and they were just wandering around. She told me how one time, in Rhodes, they were exploring some sort of gate/window thing on the side of a building and wound up going through a door that was possibly a museums’ basement. She said it was so cool to do that and it wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t choose to look around and see what they could see.
Paris is very pretty.. I can see why you would want to see the lights.
I liked their personalities too!
I completely agree the beginning made Paris look like a fairy tale, but I would have to say it always looks like a fairy tale. I also like your thought, don’t take the little things for granted. I completely agree because I think Gil’s fiance took the little things for granted. Gil certainly did not take the little things for granted, look at how much more he got out of the trip! I also like your thought of that sometimes the best things are the things that turn people away. Especially your connection to the rain, Paris is beautiful when it’s raining. .
I agree with you. You shouldn’t take things for granted. You should take time to look at whats around you
I agree with Jasmin because you have to admire the little things because they help to create the bigger picture. My metaphor is a puzzle, and this movie helped me picture what Paris will be like in reality.
I agree with you jasmine on the fact that you took away to not take things for granted, I took this away from the movie too
I agree how Paris is very pretty. I would love to be in Paris at night in the rain.
This movie was really interesting to watch, honestly. I was able to see how life in Paris was back in the 1920s, and I have always wondered, were things different or were they the same? Sure enough, the sights looked the same, and the people, I believe, had changed over time. Other than that, I was glad to visually notice the true beauty of Paris! The sights I that I noticed there were the old, authentic buildings and the beautiful and flawless scenery! I thought that Cozumel, Mexico was the most beautiful city ever when I visited it this past Spring….until I saw more of Paris as I watched the movie!
The fact that the main character, Gil, was working on a book and was trying to grasp more information on the beautiful city was just really amazing, and made me appreciate and enjoy him more. People these days believe that the Eiffel Tower is the only thing to see in Paris, but that is not what Gil thinks! He understands notices that there is more beauty and importance to it than what people say, which Is wonderful. Very rarely do I ever come across anyone(besides us) that is as appreciative and interested into the city as Gil is. To be more specific, my favorite part was when Gil met Adriana and that one other lady(I keep forgetting her name, but she was the woman that proof-read all what Gil had done of his story) because they helped him out a lot with his self confidence with his story, and becoming a successful author! He really needed the encouragement, since his fiancė was not much of a supporter of his book,
What I didn’t like about the movie was that Gil’s fiancè kept getting mad at him for wandering off into the city because here is nothing wrong with him doing that! He is just finding more information to add to his book, and also, he is an adult! He does not need to hold someone’s hand while he tours the big city, like seriously, come on! The ending I believe was really horrible because it just left me hanging, and by that, I mean that the movie could have ended after telling us if Gil’s book was published or not, or whether or not he and his fiancè got back together.
I think you might be missing the ending a bit. Gil broke up with her, because he had fallen in love with Paris. It’s pretty clear that they’re not going to get back together.
As for his book being published… that’s not important. What’s important is that he’s living his dream, moving to Paris, and not settling for the career (and girl) he didn’t love anymore. Even if he doesn’t finish the book, what matters is that he’s pursuing his dream.
Was there anything you learned from the movie (or the post/videos) that you think will help make your time in Paris better?
But if she would’ve just listened to Gil and what he had to say he could’ve fallen in love with Paris and still get the girl. I don’t think Gil broke up with his Fiancé because he didn’t love her anymore, but because she didn’t see him for who he was and she no longer loved him.
Graham, I don’t think it was about his fiancee at all.
Oh, I didn’t understand that part where Gil stayed in Paris and not go back to home. But I can see how he fell in love in Paris.
I thought that Gil didn’t want to go home because he fell in love with Paris. I thought he left his fiance so he could stay in Paris because he wasn’t in love with her anymore. It seemed like every time he went back into time he fell more and more in love with the city and the people.
I agree with Jessica also because its good that Gil is pursuing his dream. Even though he ended up calling off the engagement he can now stay in Paris and do what he loves doing.
I don’t think the ending was horrible at all. I think that actually was one of the better parts of the movie. I disagree that the ending left you hanging. It tied up the loose ends with him and his fiancée who he realized he didn’t love, and that he loved Paris. Also I think that the sights have changed and it shows how Paris is a mix of modern and old making Paris that much more beautiful to look at. If Gil’s book got published or not doesn’t matter much to me because Gil was able to learn how to write much better thanks to his time in the twenties. To me, that ties up his struggles with other people reading and critiquing his book.
Before I comment my full opinion on the entire movie, I just want to say that the ending was extremely horrible. They could have ended the movie AFTER they say how Gil’s book turned out and whether or not he and his fiancè get back together! Im sure most of us were wanting to find those things out, but I guess we would have to just wait for a sequel to come out! If they film a sequel, which they should.
I have to disagree with you, Jessica. I love the ending. Why would you want him to get back together with Inez? She’s a horrible person. The point of the ending is to show you that he fell in love with the magic of Paris and wanted to stay. I bet you feel the same way in about a year.
I loved the ending too! Inez seemed like she was always embarrassed of what Gil had to say in front of Paul, since he seemed to know “everything” about Paris. I also bet I will want to stay like Gil did since I fell in love with last years trip to Eastern Europe.
I’m going to ask you the same question I asked Caitlyn Dixon. What were the little things that made you fall in love with the places we visited last year? What small things stick with you from Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria?
I understand exactly what you’re saying, McKenna. I, too will definitely dread leaving Paris.
The movie Midnight in pairs was an ok movie. I do not really like romance movies. But it wasn’t bad or good. This movie had a lot of different time periods (eras) which made the movie more interesting. I didn’t like the movie enough to have a favorite part but i did learn a lesson that will make my experience in paris much better, Is to not take little things for granted, and to not give up because if one group of people doesn’t like your creation maybe the next one will, cause in they movie VanGogh painted a portrait of the beautiful woman, and no one in the current era considered it as a failed creation, but in the next era people said it was beautiful and loved it.
Michael, I think you might be missing the point of the movie too. It’s not about the romance between Gil and any of the female characters. It’s about falling in love with the city of Paris.
The painter in the movie, by the way, is Picasso, not Van Gogh. Totally different guy.
The assignment asked for three things you took away from the movie, but since you didn’t care for the movie, see if there’s anything you learned from the post or the videos that you think will make your trip better.
Sorry i totally forgot about that part. What i will take away from this movie to make my trip better is that paris is a very pretty place and this movie helped me understand how pretty paris actually is, and at first veforw this movie i thought paris would look like closer to Chicago but not too many tall buildings and more great archetecture, but after this movie i now look forward to seeing paris
Be specific. What are you most looking forward to?
I’m most looking forward to seeing all the cool buildings and most of all im looking forward to seeing the people, I’ve heard that they are very different from Americans, and I think it would be interesting to observe what French people do daily compared to Americans.
It is usually those little things that make the trips amazing.
One architectural structure I am most interested in seeing is the Eiffel Tower. I’m hoping from the top (1,050 ft), which has to be done by elevator after climbing 3 flights of stairs. Supposedly you can see a lot of Paris at the top, which would be amazing!
I would have to disagree with you, it wasn’t a romance movie at all really. The movie is more about the city Paris itself and Gil’s love for it. Although I do agree the different eras made the movie a lot more interesting, it really made me think about the different eras. Also I agree that you shouldn’t take the little things for granted, that’s very important as Gil showed throughout the movie. It’s sad to hear that you didn’t enjoy the movie very much, I really did. But that is okay. 🙂
I agree with most of what you thought of the movie.I think the same thing about romance movies as you do, but i think there is a lot more to learn from this movie.
Then movie was really interesting to watch, honestly. I was able to see how life was in Paris back in the 1920s as Gil was transported to that time. I have always wondered, were things different back then? Well, the buildings and scenery looked the same but sure enough, the people I believe changed over time. In the movie, I noticed the old, unique, and authentic buildings and the beautiful landscape of the city! I thought that Cozumel, Mexico was the most beautiful city in the world…until I watched this movie and saw more of Paris! The fact that the main character, Gil, was working on a book about Paris and was wanting to grasp more information was what made him my favorite character! That also made me appreciate his character more! People these days just believe that the Eiffel Tower is the only thing to see in Paris, but not Gil! He appreciates the true importance of Paris, and doesn’t focus on just the Eiffel Tower. I just think that people should think the same way Gil does about this beautiful city!
To be more specific, my most favorite part was when that one lady(I keep forgetting her name) proof read his story because he was able to finally have his book noticed by someone else! I also enjoyed the part where he met Adriana because she started to rebuild his self confidence and self esteem for his book being published! He needed that encouragement, since his fiancė wasn’t much of a supporter of his book.
Honestly, I could not stand Gil’s fiancė at all! Seriously, was there a reason for her to get mad at him constantly for wandering of into the city? There is nothing wrong with him appreciating the culture and sights on his own. And why did she have to break up with him just because he wanted to stay in Paris and not go back home? Why couldn’t she just respect his wishes? I could understand her not wanting to stay In Paris, but she could’ve found a different resolution to solve the conflict!
I’m not sure why all your replies are posting twice, but this one is a little different from the last one, so I’m putting it through.
The lady who read Gil’s book for him is Gertrude Stein. She was a very famous and important American author. If you didn’t read the post or watch the YouTube videos, please do. Her story is very interesting.
Adriana is one of the few characters in the past that wasn’t a real person. She’s there just as a symbol of Paris in the 1920s, just like the girl who sold Gil the Cole Porter record is a symbol of modern Paris. Which girl he ends up with isn’t important (but why would you want him to resolve things with Inez?), what’s important is that in the end he chose Paris.
I agree with you Jessica. Gil’s fiancé did not support him or his passion for writing, and she was always talking about how great Paul was and all of his achievements. Gil’s fiancé also ignored that he didn’t want to write movie scripts in California let alone live there after they were married. She only cared about herself and I think that Gil was right to spilt up with her in the end.
You do have a point about the ending, and I do agree, they should not get back together! And my posts were posting twice because I thought they didn’t send because they weren’t showing up, so I sent them again, so that may be why it was doing that.
I liked and hated this movie at the same time. It taught me about some of the important historic people to the french culture. It also allowed me to take away some information about some of Picasso’s art work and how people see things differently know than they did then. This movie taught me to never give up, no matter what people thing because if you believe you deserve it the universe will serve it. But i really hated the reality times of this movie when Gil was trying to explain to his Fiancé about what he was seeing and she just said he was insane. I hated how she was all over Paul and even when he was wrong, like with the painting, and Gil corrected him, his fiancé didn’t believe him. That taught me to always hear some one out no matter how crazy they sound. Like the ending, I hated how she thought Gil was crazy, if they just sat down and had a real conversation and figure things out they would’ve been together at the end of the movie. But this movie really brought out the beauty of Paris and explains the love that there is for Paris and that is what I will remember as we walk the streets of a beautiful city next year.
Graham, if your friend suddenly told you he was being magically transported back in time every night, would you just believe him?
The point of the movie wasn’t to have Gil and Inez reconcile, it wasn’t even about the love story/romance between Gil and any of the female characters. It was about the city and different times in history. Keep coming back to check other kids’ responses and see what they have to say.
This movie taught me a lot about Paris in the past, it also made me realize that there more to Paris then just the Eiffel Tower. When I think of Paris I would only think of the Eiffel Tower but now I realize that there is more to Paris, like the art that has been painted there, or the famous authors. For example in one scene the Eiffel Tower was right behind them and no one bothered to look, that is when I realized that there is more to Paris, and when Gil always wanted to walk to were they were going just to get the experiece of getting rained on in Paris. When we go I want to be like Gil and make the best of the time I have in Paris. I also realized that some people will try to bring you down but if you continue doing what you are people appreciate what you have done, like Picasso when people in his time period people thought his paintings were bad but now people see him as one of the best painters of all time. This movie also made me realize I need to appreciate the the little things in life, the movie showed this when Gil wanted to see the city at night when all the lights are on so he can see the complete beauty of the city. I can’t wait to go to Paris so that I can see the city light up at night or walk in the rain just to get wet and intake the whole experience.
I agree, Dalton. Of all the cool places I’ve been lucky enough to travel to, the famous landmarks have never been my favorite thing. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and all the well known spots in Paris are great, but my favorite place in the city is the Shakespeare and Company bookstore – because of the history there and the cool stories that go with the place. I hope you find a spot like that while we’re in Paris.
My thoughts on the movie was that it was very interesting. I loved how you were able to see Gil’s love for Paris stay strong even when several relationships ended. It was also great to see him never give up on he’s dream of getting he’s book published. I thought that was very noble, and being able to have Gertrude Stein work on he’s book must have been very rewarding. It was cool to see him talk to and work with so many historic figures like Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, and Djuna Barnes. Three things I took from the movie was to enjoy the scenery, never give up, and do what makes you happy.
So what do you think will make you happy while we’re in Paris?
I also loved how Gil’s love for Paris was very evident. You could tell just from watching him walk up and down the streets.
How do you think you’ll feel walking those streets?
I think I will be able to feel my eyes light up as I walk down those streets. Ever since I was younger, I have loved looking at light shows and strings of light. When we go there next summer, I could only imagine how magical and amazing the city of lights will be. I know just walking around in Paris will be much different than it is here. I know that I won’t find Wal-Marts on every corner. Each store and café is different, very unlike America. I know I will feel something special in Paris.
I agree with you Sara, I did think a good part of the movie was interesting, and I 100% agree about what you took away from the movie, and I also liked when we got to see him talk to all those famous people.
I agree to what Sara said, everything you said in your response I believe it was true and I agree with your 3 things that you took from the movie, I thought you have a good response, and the movie was very interesting when Gail got to see all of Paris and a bunch of famous people.
Hey, how is everybody doing? I thought the movie, like Michael, was pretty eh. I think that the protagonist, Gil, had good character development and grew to a more likeable character as the movie went on; However, I also thought it was kind of shady to try and get into Adrianna’s pants while he had his fiancee, Inez, even though she was a terrible person anyway and he was right for breaking up with her. Another thing that made me dislike the movie more was Owen Wilson. I just really don’t like him as an actor (don’t ask me why I have no idea), and for me he just kind of dragged the movie downhill. Enough about the bad. I loved how Hemingway, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Dali’s Characters were portrayed in the movie. Corey Stoll did a really good job portraying Hemingway’s possible PTSD and his coined phrase “lost generation”, really showing Hemingway’s “lostness” during the scene where Gil gets into the car with Hemingway, right before Gil asks him about dying. I loved how Dali’s Character was played as if Dali himself was mad. Mad about his work, maybe? Allison Pill did a good job showing Zelda’s mental illness during the scene when Adrianna and Gil stumble across her by the river, clearly showing that there was definitely something that wasn’t right through her paranoia that Scott Fitzgerald was in love with another woman.
Does any of this make you want to find any specific sites while we’re in Paris?
Yes! After watching the Hemingway video, some cafes were mentioned that I think would be cool to go to for lunch. I also really want to go to Shakespeare and Co., because I love books so much that if I could, I would breathe in books and all their content instead of oxygen. I probably won’t go to Le Select, because they’re big on breakfast and our breakfast is covered, but the other cafes look really cute and seem like cool places to hang out during free time or for lunch. I also think it would be cool to go to the Dali museum to compare what I think he was like to what his artwort suggests was going on in his head.
There are a number of cafes in the Latin Quarter, not too far from Shakespeare and Co. that you could probably have lunch at during our freetime. I would recommend planning ahead and having the addresses written down and a map to save yourself time searching for them when we get there.
Dali was crazy. His art was crazy. I mean super crazy, and I mean crazy in the most complimentary way possible.
Also, if books are your thing – you will love Shakespeare and Co. One of my favorite places on the planet. It is such a cool place.
There’s also a spot in Amsterdam you’ll want to visit, but you’ll have to ask Shivani more about it, because I’ve never been there (and I haven’t done much research on Amsterdam yet).
I agree with your comments Katie. I think Adrianna was not right for Gil, and neither was Inez so that’s why he eventually left both of them. I also agree about how the actors playing (Zelda) Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Dali showed us that not everything about them was good and happy, and that although the ’20s seemed like a good time to Gil, there were darker things going on in many people’s lives.
Can I start off by saying, why is everyone saying that Gil should have solved things with Inez? Those of you who believe that Inez and Gil may get back together are missing the true moral of the story. It is about a man with a true passion for literature making a connection with his artistic idols, it shows how he fell in love with Paris. I loved this movie, it showed Paris of the 1920’s from the point of view from a modern man. This film featured great romance between a man and a city and a girl lost in time, only some people appreciate the true history of this great city. I believe that is why he was chosen to travel in time, to boost his love for literature and history. One place in the movie that I have to see is the Shakespeare Co. and the lily pond.
1 thing I learned is about Ernest Hemingway, I have read one of his novels but never knew his actual life story. I found out that he was great enough to win a Nobel peace prize, but in the movie he seems like a lost man, almost like a lost highschooler not knowing which college to go to. Ernest didn’t know which way (good or bad) his life was going. Even though he faced many challenges in his life, he wrote many great novels and short stories. I saw his views in the movie interesting, he thought that since he was a writer and wanted to be the best, he would either hate your work with envy or just flat-out not like it. I never knew writers could be envious over other people’s ideas. Ernest Hemingway was a interesting man with interesting views and ideas.
Another thing I found out is how many painting were inspired by the places and people in the city of Paris. For instance I was not aware that the lily pond Monet painted actually exist. I was also impressed by the size of his painting and the amount of time he put into it. I did not realize that Picasso actually based the most abstract things off real people or places, such as when he painted Adrianna, he made her seem so abstract. I also did not realize that there was more than one Thinker statue, I thought there was only one in the Smithsonian museum.
Lastly I learned that Paris is not only the city of love because couples go their on vacation. It represents the love for art and literature and just the love for the beautiful history that surrounds you. This was the most important thing I learned. I learned that Paris’s history and culture were remarkable and the city is definitely the hottest spot in the universe!
Jaden, so far you win MVP of this discussion. You completely understood the movie, and I hope all future participants read what you wrote before looking at the story as a Gil/Inez love story. I honestly can not wait to walk across the bridge and enter the Shakespeare and Company bookstore with you, show you the Latin Quarter, and discuss those subtle things you’re picking up on here. Great comment.
Monet’s pond is just outside of Paris, and we will go there. We could see The Thinker and Shakespeare and Co. during some freetime. What else do you want to do with your time in Paris?
I totally agree with Jaden on this, why is everyone talking about Inez and Gil the movie is not about them at all they are just a side thing. They just add a extra thing to the whole movie.
Question: Will The Fault in our Stars be a movie of the month because in that movie they spend a great deal of time in Amsterdam?
No, because it’s not a cultural or historical story.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa omg
pt. 2 because I did exactly the thing I was afraid of while posting pt. 1 a minute ago and accidentally exited out of the tab. I learned about the architecture of Paris while watching the movie; it really gave me a chance to look more at the scenery of Paris during the beginning of the movie. I liked how the streets were made of bricks/cobblestone(?) instead of pavement. I also thought it was cool to see the golden glow the buildings had during the night because of the streetlight. I also learned some stuff about Luis Bruñuel. I watched his film and was very… intrigued? I liked it though because of the guy in the typical nun type outfit who was riding a bike. I also think that if I become a filmmaker and make horror movies I’ll use his as inspiration. Another thing I learned about while reading the article was Ernest Hemingway. I figured out really quick that I probably didn’t want this guy as my friend, not only because he seemed to have PTSD and was probably a little bit unstable, but because he also seemed to be drinking a lot, which made him seem like someone I just don’t want to be around. The way Stoll played Hemingway’s character also made him seem depressing which added to his probable instability.
You make a good point. Sometimes, when traveling in a foreign city, it’s the little things, like the cobblestones or lights that make the biggest impact on you. The little differences are the ones that are fun to explore. Any little differences you’ve heard about that you’re looking forward to experiencing?
I agree Kt about Hemingway. This movie portrayed him as a total jerk and I don’t think I would like him either. I wonder how people liked him as a pal?
I think the movie may have portrayed a sort of stereotypical version of Hemingway. He has a very “tough guy” persona that people remember – drinking, fighting, hunting, fishing… but a lot of his stories and novels show a softer side too. I recommend you read up a bit more on him, so you can understand why people like him.
I’m thinking maybe in his books he shows the real him and in person he wanted to act like he better than others. The people that liked him probably read his stories and saw the real him inside and out.
Close, the books (which is how most people know anything about him) usually have tough, smart, manly characters that other guys want to be like and women want to date (not marry, though). I would guess that’s a character that Hemingway tried to live up to.
However, most of his characters had sentimental and sensitive sides, they just didn’t show it to the world – they had private moments.
I think the real Hemingway was probably like that. I’d bet that only his closest friends and his wives knew the real him.
Mr. Curtis what is your favorite Hemingway story?
My favorite Hemingway book is For Whom the Bell Tolls. That’s one of my all-time favorite books.
I think this movie is both entertaining and brilliant. I love how the movie showed both the modern and past Paris. I also enjoyed how it brought together so many artists by the same problem of being “lost” and the brilliance they had. I also learned lessons from the movie that could certainly make my trip to Paris even better. One thing I learned from the movie that will impact my experience of Paris is that there is beauty where we take it for granted that causes us to miss so much. For example: in the movie when Gil travels to the past he learns that everyone, including himself, thinks that a different era was so much better than the present. They are all displeased with the present and would prefer to be in a different era because they don’t see the beauty in it. But I think Gil at one point understood that and became happier with the present. I think this lesson will make my trip to Paris even better because I will see beauty where most people wouldn’t bother to notice. This will make my trip more enjoyable, memorable, and meaningful. Another lesson in the movie that will make my trip to Paris thrive is that love doesn’t have to be just between two people like a husband and wife, but it can be between a person and something else. I don’t exactly mean you and a delicious burger. 🙂 I mean something like Gil and the city of Paris. Gil had a love for Paris, he sees something special about the city that makes him want to stay, it makes him happier. I think this lesson will make my trip to Paris better because I think i might feel something special as Gil had and love the city much more than I already do. Lastly, a lesson I learned in the movie that will make my trip to Paris more exhilarating is there is a lot more to get out of everything if you just soak everything in. An example f this is Gil and his fiance. They didn’t get along very well and he didn’t care a lot when she kicked him out. Gil hardly cared because he had fallen in love with Paris, he was soaking everything in and knew there was even more to get out of Paris. Gil realized that Paris was where he belonged, he realized there was something special about Paris that made him happier. Gil got a lot more out of Paris and with everything he learned and felt, he would certainly regret leaving Paris. Thank you for sharing this awesome movie! 🙂
Sierra, you seem to really get it. Since you want to soak it all in and not take anything for granted, what Paris experiences do you want to be sure to have while we’re there?
I didn’t really think that I would like this movie, and with the way the movie started it looked like I thought right. But as the movie unfolded I started to like it. Although I do have to admit I do not like any of the characters except Gil, the people from the 1920’s, and the girl from the shop. I did not at all like Inez or her family. Mostly because they had no respect whatsoever toward Gil. The fact that Inez would rather go dancing with friends than walk with her soon to be husband around Paris is mind boggling to me. Who wouldn’t want to walk around Paris?! What I do like about this movie is that you can see how the people of the 1920’s thought. You could also see how creative they were, and I feel that modern technology has taken away from people’s’ creativity. These people didn’t have things like iPhones or Youtube to distract them. Another thing I noticed was the way Hemingway looked at love, and Gil’s fear of death. If a person doesn’t make you forget about your fears and worries, how much do you really love them. Or do you just think that you love that person. Another thing that I learned is that we don’t know EVERYTHING. We may think that we do but in reality we don’t. When Paul was talking about Picasso’s painting he wasn’t giving accurate information. This is confirmed when Gil tells the true story from “his understanding” of what the painting really means. Every era thinks that past eras were better because of what the past eras have created. As we keep on creating new technology the less the next era has to work with. The problem that the era could had fixed, the past era had already taken care of. This movie has really shown me how to appreciate what Paris is, a city of beauty. It doesn’t matter if it is raining, storming, or if the weather is absolutely wonderful Paris is beautiful. I kind of hope that it rains just a little bit while we are there because of this movie.
Well, you weren’t supposed to like Inez or her family, so I guess that worked out.
What are you hoping to experience in Paris?
Gianna, I agree with your statement about how it was crazy that Inez did not want to walk around the streets of Paris. I believe it takes a certain kind of person to appreciate the meaning and beauty of something like walking the streets of Paris. Inez was clearly not that person which led Gil to realize that he really was not in love with her. I hope that everyone going on this trip is able to appreciate beauty in things like the streets of Paris.
Gianna, I completely agree with your review. I personally do not think that Inez was the kind of person to be with Gil. Also about the statement that if the person you love does not take away your worries and fears are you really in love with them?
Being a massive fan of all of the lost generation authors, it was almost inevitable that I would absolutely adore this movie when I first saw it last year. Since then, Midnight in Paris has become one of my all time favorite films. Firstly, the visuals themselves were so beautiful, and the background music with the saxophones and eventually the guitar made me feel like I was in 1920s Paris with Gil. Seeing Gil meet all these amazing writers, I would get excited for him quite often, as I would say that most literature enthusiasts have that thought in the back of their minds. There’s always the slight longing to, say, meet F. Scott Fitzgerald and see if he actually did go around calling people ‘Old Sport’ like Gatsby or to see Ernest Hemingway work on The Sun Also Rises, but I think that is exactly what the directors wanted us, as viewers to feel. Because then, after the initial excitement of seeing these idolized figures come to life in front of us, they have the opportunity to show us the error in our ways. Through watching this movie, for the first time I thought about the merits of our own era. It’s so easy to think that any other time was the ‘Golden Age’ and that whatever we do now could never top what came before us, but in actuality history keeps making itself. We’re as much a part of that as anyone, and that’s what the movie emphasizes using the backdrop of literature and art. The next thing this movie taught me was that Paris looks its best in the rain, which will probably help me in Paris if there is ever bad weather, although I do believe that in the film the rain was a symbol of cleansing for Gil and the start of his new life in Paris. Finally, this movie let me experience a little bit of the magic of Paris, which gets me even more excited to visit. In falling in love with the city, Gil learns about himself, and I hold the belief that there are only a few places in the world where that is possible for anybody. I look forward to visiting one.
You’re the first person to mention the music. What is it about that music? Why does it carry such weight?
You obviously understand a great deal of the symbolism present in the movie, so what do you think will symbolize today’s Paris when we get there? What will future generations think about 2016’s Paris and long for? What would make today a Golden Age?
As far as the music goes, I think there’s something about the bouncy, staccato sound of the music in the middle contrasting with the elongated and smooth tones of the beginning and end that somehow makes it quintessentially Parisian. When it comes to today’s France, I’m not entirely sure. I don’t think I can answer very well without having been there and seen it, which through this group I am lucky enough to get the chance to do. I’ll have to get back to you in a year or so.
I agree with your first comment Shivani. I believe that the music, not just in this movie, is essential to creating mood for the story. The music was “happier” in happier parts of the movie like when Gil was travelling in the 1920s, the music capitalized on the classic Paris vibe from the scenes and helped create a specific, happier, mood. These scenes were also able to show another window into the time period through the music. The music in these happier parts of the film were able to show us another aspect of Parisian beauty that wasn’t visual. In my opinion, when the music of Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love rolled in it made me feel all the more excited to experience authentic, unique, Parisian culture.
So what you’re saying, Declan, is that we should all load up our iPods with Cole Porter songs to listen to on the flight over to get in the proper mood?
There’s nothing better to set the mood than good music.
I really enjoyed the movie to the point where I watched more than once. I liked how it showed the differences between modern France and 1920’s France. But the best part was how the beginning showed different sceneries in Paris and looked like scenes out of a fairy tale story. But as the movie continued on, the people from different eras wanted to visit their favorite eras. I understood this better when Gil explained that the artists of their era looked up to their favorite artists and wanted to live with them in their time. One thing that I learned from watching this movie, is don’t take the little things for granted. When we go to Paris, we should not really look forward to the huge tourist attractions but the small things. Like a small lunch in a park by the Seine or a secret garden. Or even having a conversation with someone in that town. Another thing that I learned was to expect the unexpected. Like how Gil stated that when it rains in Paris, it is the most beautiful thing in the world. Even though most people don’t like rain. The last thing I learned from watching the movie was to try new things. I’m not just talking about food, I’m also talking paintings and different people. Even if you don’t find the art museum very interesting, at least try to enjoy yourself and you might find something you’ll like.
Since you talk about enjoying the little things, and you’re the first of our “repeat travelers” to comment so far, could you let the group know what little things you took away and held onto from your trip to England? What small things made London, Bath, Stratford, or York a special experience?
Caitlyn, I really like your views on enjoying the little things. I completely agree. Whenever I go on a trip with my family, before we know too much about the city we start by planning to go to all of the “tourist traps” not knowing that there is more to the city. But usually after the first night there, after talking to some locals at our hotel or dinner our plans change to fit their recommendations. They tell us whether the tourist attractions are really worth the money and then they share something to do that is worth our time to get the true feeling of the city. Usually they are smaller things that anybody else would take for granted, but for us they make the trip even more special. On our Trip I hope everyone is able to notice the little things and count those as their favorites because that is how you get the real feel for a new culture.
I thought the movie was simple but interesting because of how it used a variety of characters that never changed their personality. I loved the idea of how the movie went to the past as a real place and how his work in Paris seemed more effortless then he decided to stay, hopefully with the girl who sold him the record, and I loved the time era of Paris in the 1920s along with the many journeys back to historic Paris. The movie had amazing and gorgeous scenes of Paris which make me want to go even more. I also learned that the 1920s perspective from Gil was better to me and I changed my mind because I feel the way people acted then were better.
Personally I loved the movie. I especially loved how the characters personalitys were different but they all got along. At the beginning gill thought Paris was a perfect place to live but towards the end he thought that they liked it better in the past. From this movie I learned that you have to live in the moment and not to take things for granted. I think that while I’m in Paris I wont take things for granted and the little things will act as big things. I will see the beauty in the visit like Gil thought about the rain.
Another thing I hav learned from the movie is to really pay attention and to expirience every little thing that we pass. Instead of just seeing the painting,building or sculpture I should think about the background behind it and why it is so important
How can you make sure you know the background behind it before you get there?
Before I go there I will double check everything we’ve learned and study other interesting places I would like to see and get to know.
What things do you most look forward to experience in Paris?
I would love to see the beach in Netherlands where all the soldiers fought in World War II. I think it would be interesting to see where we fought and learn the history behind it.
Do you mean the beaches in Normandy where D-Day happened? That’s in northern France, and we will be going there.
I loved the movie and thought it was great. When the movie started you got to see key places around the city and I thought they would look fun to go to. Gil got to go back in the 1920’s and I thought that was really cool. It was interesting seeing all those famous people that Gil looked up too (Or at least some of them). During the movie I thought that Gil’s Fiance’ was a pain in the butt. It doesn’t seem right to yell at him or make him do stuff, when he has the book to write and probably makes all the money. When Gil broke up with her, I then started to respect Gil a little more.
I also loved all the places That Gil was in also. There were lots of details and really set the mood. When Gil broke up with his Fiancé I realized that what he really cared about were the buildings and things around him. I noticed how wherever he would walk, he would look at everything before walking again. I had a few questions at the end. Once he finished his book would it be a good book or bestseller? Or like where does he move to in Paris? Overall I thought the movie was great and really showed you the different eras. Now that I’ve seen the movie I know lots of more places I want to go to.
Okay, where do you want to go?
Places I would like to go are Disney Land. I actually found out that they have a DisneyLand In paris. I would Also Like the see the Sacre Coeur. It was described at the “Sacred Heart of Paris”. I would also like to see the Grand Palais. It would be a a fun museum to go to.
We’re definitely not going to Disney Land, but Sacre Couer is my favorite spot in all of Paris. What makes you want to see that church?
Not going to Disney Land? That’s a bummer! Another bummer for me is that the Pont des Arts collapsed from the weight of the locks and I was looking forward to seeing that.
Hopefully you’re kidding about Disney Land! Amusement parks are definitely not why we’re going to the other side of the world.
The bridge was damaged, but it did not collapse entirely, so you can still see it. The locks, however, have been removed, and I say, “good.” It’s a fun story and sounds romantic to afix a lock onto a bridge and toss the key into the river to say your love is forever… however, it’s gotten out of hand. We’ve seen locks on bridges, fences, railings, and even benches all over the world now and it’s just becoming an eyesore – not to mention that it was damaging the bridge and making it unsafe for what the bridge is really for – walking across the river.
To learn about What Religon they believed in and what it looked like.
This movie, I believe, will definitely make my time more better and more enjoyable in Paris because now I know what to expect when we get there. Now, I can look forward to seeing other places and buildings than just the Eiffel Tower! I learned a lot about the history of Paris, which will help me appreciate the city better as we tour it in less than a year!
Did you notice at the end of the movie the Eiffel Tower had sparking lights? I have a better idea of what Paris looks like as well… but seeing it in person will be amazing.
It sparkles just about every night at a specific time. It’s pretty amazing to see, and you’ll see it.
I couldn’t decide whether the movie was good or bad. Many aspects that I found interesting was that every actor portrayed the artist or writer exactly how they were in real life, such as Hemingway being a huge alcoholic. Another thing that I found interesting was the sudden change in eras, from 1920s Paris, 2010, and the turn of the century. Some things that I found pretty bad were certain characters. Most of them being from the present, such as Inez (and her family) and Paul. I didn’t like Adriana, as she was a fictional character. In movies like this, I prefer the movie to be either fiction or nonfiction.
I feel that many things from this movie and post would make the trip better. First off, I would love to eat at the same restaurant as Hemingway. He’s an interesting man, and to eat at the same place as a famous author sounds like a great time to me. I also feel that seeing Picasso’s paintings and being able to critique them like Gil did (just not out loud) would be fun. It would make me feel smart in a way. I also would love to be able to walk around in the rain. Like they said in the movie, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain. So being able to see that for the first time would make me feel happy.
I feel as if the ending of the movie could be polished though. The “meet the new love of your life in the end” scene is just too cliche to me. But it’s just a though.
Of all the things you gained from this movie, why would you “love to eat at the same restaurant as Hemingway”? I don’t disagree with you, because I love the idea of sitting in the same booth as Fitzgerald and Hemingway, writing in my journal and having a meal, but I want to know why that’s important enough to you that you mentioned it?
He just seems like an interesting person to hang out with. He reminds me a little of my Grampy.
How? What does your Grampy have in common with him?
He tells it like it is – always talking about bravery and being a man. And he likes a good drink.
How would his world views fit into today’s society if Hemingway had been able to travel back to 2015 with Gil?
If your grandpa was anything like Ernest Hemingway, I’m super jealous. Hemingway was a total boss.
So the Movie for you was like a “Ehh”? Not good or bad? And how come you didn’t like Adriana. I thought she was a good character in the movie. I also thought the time period changes were amazing.
She just seemed TOO much like Gil except that she stayed in her favorite time. I wish she had gone back to her time like Gil did.
I think it makes the story more interesting that Adrianna and Gil made different choices. It would have been easy for him to keep traveling back in time with her, but that he didn’t showed that the movie wasn’t about being in love with a person, but finding what works for you.
I did not like Adriana either, I don’t think she encouraged him to follow his dreams. Like you I can’t wait to walk in the rain in Paris.
I thought the movie was very interesting. The time era’s and the differing personalities of all the characters were a great example of how people acted in those specific moments of time in Paris. Gil and his wife did not get along well in most of scenes. They both wanted two total different life styles, Gil a man who wanted to explore Paris and see the world, while his wife wanted to stay in the U.S with a wealthier lifestyle. First night the car came and picked Gil up he was a little drunk from wine tasting but yet he still remembered that he had seen Hemmingway and Hemmingway told him to bring his book for Gertrude Stein to read over. The next night when he tried to show his wife she was very impatient and decided to catch a taxi to the hotel, I found it a little strange how it was midnight and his wife had just left when a minute later the car then showed up. It almost gave a feeling to me that something was leading Gil to fall in love with Paris no matter the time era or the people he was spending his time with. I think since he looked up to people in other centuries it was easy for him to understand all of the paintings and books written. The more and more he learned about the beautiful city the more and more he fell in love. Gil fell in love with the things that most inspired him including the girl, Adrianna.
So what do you think you learned from this movie that will help you enjoy Paris more?
After watching this movie, Midnight in Paris, I honestly enjoyed it more than I thought I would have! Before I even started the movie, I read the whole post and watched some of the clips as well so I can fulling reach what I wanted to learn from this film. It helped a lot and made things 10 times more interesting as I recognized the things I read to what I watched. Setting storyline aside for a moment, Gil’s interests in Paris made me want to be there and maybe walk in the rain as well or even go back to the 1920’s. The scenery was lovely and the places the movie took us, like Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, back in time, and heck, even that 2 second shot of Shakespere and Co. made me so excited to have this chance of doing there and seeing it for my self. Well, except back in time of course!
One quick thing I wanted to point out was Hemingway! Ernest Hemingway ended up being one of my favorite characters when he appeared in the movie, he talked about all these cool deep writing tips for Gil and I found them super interesting! Shoutouts to you Hemingway! Way to not be afraid of death!
Along with this subject, I’ve learned so much, past and present wise from this movie and from reading the articles above. Gil’s excitement for all his historical heros made me interested in them as well. Like Picasso, as he was trying to paint Adriana’s portrait, but it wasn’t subtle or like Adriana at all, according to Gertrude, and other artists and their artworks. No one has the same type of art style. Everyone’s different, and that’s why they all went to Paris, to get inspired. I hope to see more artwork there too! So I can get just as inspired as they were!
Another thing I wanted to point out was, French architecture didn’t change alot over the years. France is know as an old country, and that the French don’t like change very much. It was interesting to see that being true as played out in this movie! It was also great to see Gil fall in love with Paris since the very beginning of the movie. He fell in love with everything, the past and present. It makes me realize that once I’m able to see the place for myself, it’ll be like going back in time.
Lastly, this movie made me want to meet people. Unfortunately, I wont be able to see the historical prodigies of this movie, but it made me want to meet people of the culture, or inspired by the french culture. To pick up things along the way during this trip! To take a slice of Paris when I return home! Which reminds me of the ending of this film. I apologise for not critiquing my opinions on the storyline of this film, but I realize that’s not what Mr. Curtis what’s me to focus on. My first thought of the ending was like, great so another affair, but I tried looking at it another way. He didn’t go back America with Inez, not just because he didn’t like her, but because he chose France instead. This somewhat reminds me of Hemingway’s words! He says something about loving someone, if it was good, or if it was true. This can be interpreted two ways if you think about it! First one is obviously the first thing you thought about, but the second is you do it because you love it that much. Gil proves he loves Paris that much to stay. And I see that now thanks to the ending. It truly makes me want to come along and enjoy Paris with everyone.
Pardon my language, but Hemingway was pretty badass. You made some awesome connections there.
I’m very glad you took a lot away from the post and the videos. It takes a lot of time to put those together, but it’s worth it if it helps the students get it (both for the movie and for the actual trip).
You mentioned that you want to take a slice of Paris with you, how will you try to do that?
I think this movie was not bad. It was a good movie showing all the important people back in the 20’s and giving myself a good feel on Paris. I really liked how they showed the city and showed some cool places to go. When I watched this movie it just made me want to be in Paris with them. Everytime I see or read about Paris I just can’t wait any longer, it makes me want to be there more and more. Three things I learned in this movie and post that will make my trip better are Paris can change people, Gil was totally changed by Paris and it made him feel totally different about his love life and life at home. I think when people realize the beauty’s in this world they want to stay with them and put things up for them. I hope when I go to Paris it will change me a bit and make me realize some key things in life. My second reason was, Paris was a big part of art. It seemed as if every big thing in art went through Paris. This will totally help me because I will see the different types of art and all the pieces I have never even imagined of. My third reason is you have to focus on everything, not just the little things and not just the big things, everything. When I’m in Paris I’m not just going to be there to see the big things. I’m going to want to walk the streets and soak in everything surrounding me, just like Gil did. Because the big things won’t mean as much in the future.
How will you allow Paris to change you? I agree that these trips can change a person, usually for the better, much like you saw with Gil in the movie – but how will you make sure you gain the experiences that your parents and teachers want you to?
Since your brother traveled with us, perhaps asking him how he let Eastern Europe into his heart and soul. Please report back your thoughts (and maybe what Tyler said, too).
I will let Paris change me for the better, and I will let it change me from the stories I hear from people that live there. When I’m there I will try to understand why things are the way they are and it will make me understand so much more. It will make me such a different person, if I understand the true meaning behind Paris and all the little things that make it what it is.
I think that this is a very good sum of all the lessons from the movie I agree with all of it.Especially that the trip will change most if not all of the group in many ways.
Reflecting back on the question you asked me, how will Paris make me happy is I believe the scenery will be the best part for me! I have been able to see many historical sites in Paris through pictures but I think actually being there and see it personally will be such a happy and different experience. I also agree with Ryan that the movie was a great way to see people back in the 20s and the movie was able to give us a good feel for Paris and what’s to come.
I thought the movie was good. It really showed the golden age of Paris when all the writters and artists made a mark in history. It goes to show why the culture in Paris is so great. I really appriciated the old buildings, bridges, cobblestone roads and easy living culture. its amazing how many writters and authors where inspired by living in Paris, just like I hope to be inspired and amazed. This is the first time I’m hoping for it to rain during my travels so I can too walk in the rain in Paris. When Gil was walking to wait for the car at midnight the combination of the streetlights, buildings, bridges and light fog to be beautiful. I hope to experience the same feelings that Gil had during his vist in Paris.
Describe to me what you think you might need to do in Paris to “experience the same feeling that Gil had.”
I guess maybe sitting in a quite spot at night listening to the city seeing the lights shine in the fog. The sound of footsteps walking on the cobblestone. Hearing foreign language and laughter in the distance.
I thought this movie was interesting and educational. I saw many museums, cafes, and landmarks that I want to go to. I would really love to go to the same places as Hemingway. I didn’t know anything about him, but seeing he as such a rebel, makes me want to read “A Movable Feast”. I can’t wait to see Versailles and see how royalty lived. From the movie, it looked very extravagant. My favorite scenes were the beggining and the Endodontist the movie.
Continuing… These were all the places that made Paris wonderful. Seeing them in person will make it real to me
I am a huge fan of Hemigway, so I’m curious, what is it about him that appeals to you, Max?
what makes me real appeal to him is how he wrote his books. I went online and searched about him. most of the time, he wrote about life experiences, like ” A Movable Feast”. I really like that kind of writing. It really gives u a lot of info about it. So really, what I’m Trying to say is, I like autobiographies.
I really enjoyed the movie. I loved how they made something that seems a bit odd into something incredible and interesting. If I had just randomly heard about a movie where someone goes back in time and meets all his inspirations I wouldn’t have thought of watching it but I honestly loved it. And I would never have thought about 20’s Paris as such an amazing place and now that I’ve seen what it’s like it’s going to be stuck in my head for a long time. I think seeing this movie will make my Paris experience better is to try new things and take adventures. When they talk about walking in the rain, now that’s something I wouldn’t want to do here in Illinois, but I think it would so much fun to do it in Paris because it’s absolutely gorgeous.
I really enjoyed this movie. If I had heard of a movie about a guy who goes back in time I wouldn’t really have thought about watching it but I loved it. I also never would have thought about wanting to go to Paris in he 20’s but now I see that it’s gorgeous. Something I learned that could help make my Paris experience better is to keep trying new things like walking in the rain. Around here in Illinois I would never want to walk in the rain but I am dying to do it in Paris. Another thing I learned is to take everything in and not just look at something and take a picture. One more thing I learned is to kind of just relax while I’m there. I don’t want to be freaking out I just want to be able to learn everything that I can and have as much fun as possible. This movie has made me a lot more excited for this trip and I can’t wait to see what other movies of the month I am going to watch.
I think I liked the movie more than what I thought I would. One of the details about the movie that I liked was that the background included the city and actual buildings that we may visit during our time in Paris. I also liked how Gil could go back in time to see and interact with his idols. It was pretty cool to see what the different eras were like in Paris. One thing that will help me enjoy the trip more was how much history the Paris holds, all of the culture and events that Paris has to offer. The movie showed a lot of this. While we are there, we don’t even have to go see a monument because just walking the streets we will be able to learn a lot. The movie also shows all of the possibilities in Paris, and all the different sights that are worth seeing. The movie just made me more excited for our trip!
Seeing the sights in Paris is an experience of a lifetime! Experiencing the culture, the food, the history and everything that goes with it. Gil’s experiences throughout the movie helps him to realize his path and destiny. He found that he loved the history and the city. In the end he made a choice that was right for him.
Be specific. What do you want to experience in Paris and why?
Paris is known as the “City of Lights”. I cannot wait to see the city at night all lit up. I want to stand in front of the Eiffel Tower tower at night watching the lights twinkle in the darkness. I am excited to experience the magic of Paris and all the city has to offer…the culture, the food, the architecture. It is very cool to think in less than a year we will be enjoying the magic of Paris! I can hardly wait!
I have to agree with with Mr. Curtis. I liked how the movie ended. Gil realizing that he loved Paris and wanted to stay in the city he loved. Inez was a nasty person. She was very bossy and thought Gil was nuts. She did not understand the true magic of Paris as Seen through Gils eyes.
I agree too. Inez didn’t get how glorious Paris was and she didn’t understand the ambition that Gil had for Paris. Gil saw all the glory and she just saw a city that she could spend her money in. She thought that Gil was crazy but he was just crazy about Paris. He thought he was in love with Inez but he realized she was a terrible person and that Paris was the place for him.
I thought the movie was good. I liked all the history involved in the movie. I really enjoyed seeing all the historic places in Paris at the very beginning of the movie. One of the things from the movie that I will take with me to Paris is when we see actual Picasso paintings, I will be able to know a little bit about the painter’s life and what inspired him to paint what he did. The second thing is I really want to see if the lights on the Eiffel Tower shine on and off at night like they did in the end of the movie. That was very fascinating. I’m not sure if that was just in the movie or if it really does that. The third thing is I’m anxious to see if the attractions such as museums, restaurants and hotels are as beautiful as the movie portrayed them to be. I can’t wait to find out and see for my own eyes the beautiful architecture that Paris is known for.
The museum with Picasso’s work is not something we’re scheduled to see, however, there is always some free time in which we can choose to do whatever we want. Would that museum be your free-time choice? Or is there something else in Paris you’d like to see? Why?
I didn’t know that we would not be going to the museum. I may have to put that on my free time list. Watching the movie inspired me to want to see the other great work he did, not shown in the movie.
I’m sure that you won’t be the only one that wants to go to see Picasso’s work during free time.
Same for me I cant wait to see the architecture. I also want to see if the lights flicker on and off. I think that Picasso works are cool but it wouldn’t be something I would want to see.
Then what do you want to see?
I thought this movie was interesting and educational. I saw many museums, cafes, and landmarks that I want to visit on the trip. I would really love to go to the same places as Hemingway. I didn’t know anything about him at all, but seeing that he was such a rebel makes me want to read “A Moveable Feast”. I can’t to see Versailles and see how royalty lived. From the movie it looked very extravagant. My favorite scenes were the beginning and the end of the movie. These were all the places that make Paris wonderful. Seeing them in person will make it real to me. I think after traveling to Paris I will see a different lifestyle than Americans have. I have also heard that the French are not nice to Americans, but I think they will be.
The French people get a bad reputation for being rude, but I’ll tell you a secret… they think we’re rude. In my experience, and my trip with you guys will be my fifth time in Paris, I have not met anyone rude in Paris. They have different customs than we do, so when we visit a foreign place, we have to try to adapt to their customs, instead of behaving like we do at home.
For example, here at home, if I walk into a store, the person working at the front might say, “Hi! Welcome to Wal-Mart.” I usually just say hi very quietly, maybe I just wave or nod. Sometimes I see people walk right by without even acknowledging that a human being said Hi to them. That’s just normal here.
In France, most of the restaurants, cafes, and stores we go into, won’t be huge Wal-Mart chains. The person that says, “Bonjour! Ca va?” (that means hello, how are you?) is probably the owner, and they are genuinely excited to have you enter their store. When they say “hi, how are you?” they really want to know. They really want to help you find something you want in their store. They think it’s terribly rude of you to just nod or wave (different customs, and we are the ones visiting, so we should adapt to their ways) – they want to start a conversation with you, and how awesome is that? You never get to have a conversation with a Paris native at home! Too many American tourists (and people from other countries, too) don’t try to adapt and fit local customs. The local Parisians find those people terribly rude, and will probably be rude right back. Can you blame them?
Another example of how life is just different… In Paris, and most of France, a waiter will not come to your table and check on you. Here, the waiters check on you, get you refills, ask how your food is… about 10,000 times per meal. The French think that is bothersome (and isn’t it?). They believe you came to a restaurant to eat and talk to your friends/family, not answer the waiter’s million questions about how you are doing. They believe that if you need something, you’ll call them over and ask for it. We, as Americans, aren’t used to that, so we assume they are being rude. That’s not very fair of us, is it? To call someone rude, who is intentionally staying out of your face, because they think that is rude? If you want something from a waiter in Paris, just look for them, make eye contact, maybe even raise your hand, and they will come – if you don’t do that, they will leave you alone, because in their customs, leaving you alone is more polite.
In the end, what I like to share is a line that a friend of mine who is from Paris uses all the time… When he is asked if French people dislike Americans, he says, “Not you. We like you. You’re here, in France, trying to open your mind to a different culture, trying to experience a new place, trying new foods, new drinks, new languages, and doing your best to fit in here. We love you! It’s the people back in America who make stereotypical statements, who never try anything new, who judge without knowing – those are the ones we don’t like. But you, we love you – you came here.”
So i see that Paris is different and use different cultures than us. I will take your advice and use it in cafes, stores and people that we meet. So it is like the same way they wear and eat, right.
So I see that they are very kinder and more generous about people. That is how they be in their culture. Its really like how they look and eat there. I will see how there culture is when I look it up really quick.
I agree with what you said Max I really like the beginning and the end. I also agree with what you said about the French being very mean to the Americans. I hope that what you said at the end comes true to everyone.
Jeffery, I hope you carefully read what I wrote about the French stereotypes. Please do not go into this trip with preconceived ideas about people like that. TAP travelers need to have open minds and open hearts.
People in France have very different customs than we do and learning how to cope with it can be difficult. Watching these movies and doing the assignments will help us comprehend their culture and their daily routines.
Did you learn any of these customs from Midnight in Paris?
I thought the movie was very educational and had a very important lesson behind it that everyone must know before traveling and most will thoroughly understand afterwards. One thing that I picked up very fast on the Poland trip is how amazing it is just to walk around the city. There’s no need to blow your money on the biggest tourists sites. And in the movie, Gil greatly portrays that. He leaves his fiance behind while she goes to expensive restaurants and clubs and all he does is walk. He was open to the fact of getting lost, and honestly I wish I had more people like that in my life. In the scene where Gil corrects Paul (I think that’s his name but not for sure) on the story behind Picasso’s painting of Adrianna reminds me of the story Mr. Curtis told us about how TAP students showed the tour guide that they knew their information. Knowing the history behind a building, artwork, sculpture, etc. makes it that more meaningful when you see it. If Gil’s fiance would’ve seen any of those people, she probably wouldn’t have appreciated it as much. One more thing I pulled from this movie was how important it is to talk to the people living in the area rather than your own group. I’m glad Gil and Inez split and he found someone (a native) who is already in Paris and appreciates the city as much as he does.
Listen to Mikaela, she says smart things. So much of what you’ve said here is why we’re so excited to have you back for a second adventure!
I liked this movie. I liked the idea of time travel and how it had different eras. I really liked the music that they played. I have always liked instrumental music and this music added a special feel to the movie. The art was also interesting, especially Picasso’s. In fact I have one of Picasso’s pictures hanging on my bedroom wall (of course it’s not real though). I thought they really got it right when they said how some people are never satisfied with what they have. That is one thing I will take with me to Paris and in life. When I am in Paris I will be grateful for what I have-the chance to see such wonderful things. Another thing I learned is how beautiful Paris looks at night. I can’t wait to see it myself. This movie taught me that it is a small world. It’s amazing how all those famous writers knew each other and were friends, sharing ideas with one another. I am excited to see the places famous people once hung out at and hopefully see some of the cool art that can only be seen in Paris. Paris is an awesome city because it gave people ideas, become friends and share their thoughts. I hope when I’m there it will inspire me like that.
What, specifically, are you looking forward to seeing or experiencing most in Paris?
I really want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and look over the distant lands, but now that I am learning more about French culture I also would like to try different foods and figure out French humor.
After a very long time I finally watched the movie. I found it to be an interesting one. Woody Allen did a great job portraying Paris as a beautiful city full of culture and beauty, not only through the people, but through the music and colors. Those involved with set design and things like that chose to use a certain palette of colors to describe Paris. I noticed lots of subtle hints at beauty like soft grays and blues. The choice of colors in the film, at least in my opinion, showed how Paris doesn’t need to be so flamboyant and bright to hold mythical beauty everywhere you look. I also appreciated how throughout the film Gil found different people that portrayed his thoughts or characteristics of his life. For example, there is a time early in the film, when Gil has met Hemingway for the first time and Zelda leaves with the Spaniard that can be related to Gil’s relationship with Inez. Hemingway is talking to Scott about her, he is saying how she wanders with other men because he never settles down on something. I believe Hemingway’s opinion symbolizes Gil’s conscience telling him that he wanders too much so Scott/Inez is doubting their relationship. Another woman who symbolized Gil’s opinions for a time was Adriana. He fell in love with her because she agreed with him that Paris was beautiful and that the past was better than the present, but eventually Gil came to realize that even though the past may have been great that doesn’t mean you can escape your own life because good or bad, it’s still your life. At the end Woody showed one last piece of Gil in Gabrielle. She like him found the past fascinating, but in the present found Paris to be beautiful in the rain.
Great analysis of the movie and some of the hidden symbolism, Declan. Now tell me, did the movie teach you anything about Paris? Did it make you want to see or experience anything specific while we’re there?
The movie showed me just how beautiful and mesmerizing the city itself is whether you are looking at a famous sculpture in a manicured garden or just looking down a cobblestone road full of little cafés and bookshops. To me the movie just reiterated the point that Paris is just brilliantly overflowing in fascinating culture everywhere you look. The film made me want to check out the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in particular.
That bookstore is pretty cool. Any books in particular you think you’d like to buy there?
I don’t have anything specific but I guess just something that is from the 1920s-1930s era, something that just captures French literature in a classic novel.
Actually it would be cool to find The Little Prince in French.
In 2013, I was walking in Paris with a group of teachers. We were headed to dinner, and running a bit late. I was sort of turned around, so I didn’t know exactly where I was, so I was relying on the group to get me where I needed to be (big mistake – always pay attention to where you are). I saw a used copy – in French – of the Little Prince in a store window. I wanted so badly to stop and get it, and if I had been paying attention to where we were and where we were going, I would have, but I made a split second decision to pass it by. I still kick myself for that one.
However, Shakespeare and Company is an English bookstore – all books in English. I did by a copy of the Little Prince for my sons when I was there in February.
I like the moral of the story because it shows that no time is a perfect time and you have to make the best of everything. My favorite part is the love story between Gil and Adrian. It made me sad that they didn’t end up together. I loved seeing the city of Paris and I can’t wait to go. It really made me want to walk the streets of Paris and along the river. I like seeing the little shops that make it feel like a small town in a big city. Even though I wanted him to end up with Adrian I love that the music of Cole is what ended up bringing love into his life. It made me think that happiness is finding people that love the same things as you do.
Nice thoughts, Paige. Now tell me, is there anything specific you want to see or experience in Paris after watching this movie?
I would really like to see the Eiffel Tower at night. It seems so beautiful. Also not from the movie but wish we could go to Leanardo DaVincis home. My mom said it was the coolest thing she saw when she was there. But just walking the streets along the river at night would be great to be able to feel the city.
I actually kind of liked the movie.I found some parts funny.I learned that Paris’s past is more interesting than the present.Also that Paris has a lot more things to it besides just pretty lights and buildings.You can learn lots from going to a museum and looking at the historical pieces and it would be way more interesting than some of the buildings.The artists have some very amazing pasts that i cant wait to learn about. Don’t get me wrong Paris is very nice but i think the history is what we should pay more attention to than some of the architecture .I’m really looking forward to going.Gil changed a lot and I think me and the group will change a lot to.I wish i can travel back in time and visit Paris.This movie has given me a different perspective about Paris.I cant wait to go and i hope i can learn more from the next movie.
Jake, tell me more about this “different perspective.” What did you think about Paris before, and what do you think now? How has what you want to see or experience in Paris changed?
The movie showed me more about what Paris was like.It showed me what the people did like go to parties and going out for dinner a lot and what all the buildings look like. Also,I didn’t think Paris was as nice like I do now.I want to see the buildings from the movie like the Eiffel tower and walk around like Gil did and see whats changed and whats the same.
“Midnight In Paris” is a movie I enjoyed. I, however, was expecting a romance which I was not looking forward to. The fact that Gil, the main character, traveled back in time to where he believed that era was the golden age made me enjoy the movie 100 times more. This did not only entertain me, however, it educated me about Paris and the objects that it contains. One thing I learned from this movie was that the past is not dead. Gil made this remark towards the end of the movie and I believe that this is true. When walking through the streets of Paris or any old city, you realize that these buildings are over 100 years old. These buildings came from the past and are still there in the present day. So as I walk through the streets of Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, etc. I will recognize that these buildings keeps the past alive which I look forward to seeing. I also learned about the paintings in the movie. For instance, the painting of Djuana that Picasso made helped me determine what a painting means. I used the painting and Gil’s explanation for it to help me determine what a painting means. So when we go to The Louvre I can use the skills that Gil used to understand the painting. Finally I learned Why Gil fell in love with the city. I know this isn’t educational but it helps me appreciate these old settings. It will help me enjoy this trip even more.
I love that you’ve grabbed onto the concept that the past is still alive and is a part of our today… However, realize that 100 years old is nothing. We’re going to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame – that was built in 1160! That’s 850 years old, and it’s not even close to one of the oldest structures we’ve seen in our travels.
Unfortunately, Picasso’s work isn’t in the Louvre (it’s in a different museum in Paris), so if you want to see his work, you’ll have to make sure to do it during our freetime. Is there any other art work, maybe something that is in the Louvre, that you look forward to seeing?
I never realized that buildings could be that old! It does stink that we can’t see of Picasso’s work in the Louvre.
The oldest building TAP has been in was called Newgrange in Ireland. It’s over 5,000 years old.
You may be able to see some of Picasso’s work, but keep in mind that his paintings are pretty new. The Louvre is all stuff from the 1600s and older. There are two other big art museums in Paris to see more modern work. Do a little research about what you want to see and you’ll have a shot to see it during free-time maybe.
I really do agree with Tommy here with the past not being dead. Just looking at all the buildings and realizing that they are over 400 or even 800 years old is quite amazing. I can also relate to my Florida trip too, like I went to the fountain of youth in St. Augustine. and seeing that it was found about 200 years ago by Ponce De Leon was really cool.
I really loved the movie!! I think it started off a little slow, but when they were sight seeing I started to enjoy it more. I thought it was so funny when Paul kept going on and on about everything acting like a know it all. I like how Gil was so interested in the olden times, I really enjoyed how he went back in time at midnight. I have always been interested in Paris, I hope that I will learn a lot about the buildings and paintings during this trip. I agree that Paris is so beautiful when it is raining, it looks like a Monet painting, all soft and somewhat out of focus. I would love to travel back in time while I am in Paris. I enjoyed the fashion that the women wore and the music that they played while Gil was in the 20’s. The idea of meeting all those historic people and hanging out with them would be awesome. I loved it when Gil gave the opinion of the painting that Pablo Picasso painted of Claudia that he heard Gertrude Stein say verbatim. To know the true stories behind historic paintings is very interesting. I honestly didn’t think I would like this movie, but it turns out it is my favorite movie at the moment. I think that after this movie I learned that the sights and museums are not the only reason to visit Paris. This movie makes me look forward to walking along the narrow, windy streets made out of brick, visiting the street venders and shops along the way, and making use of our free time to explore off the beaten path. I also realized that everyone considers different experiences to be enjoyable. Gil and Inez have totally different ideas on how to enjoy a visit to Paris. This is important to remember when you’re with a big group. Not everyone will enjoy the same thing. And finally I realized that living in the past may be cool but, as our movie finally pointed out, that we need to make the most out of the time we have and not to let our dreams slip away.
You make some great points, Petinka. If you had a day in Paris, without the big group – just you and a few close friends or family members – what would you want to do with it?
I think you have a great response petrina, I agree with what you said how being in Paris when it’s raining is beautiful because truly it probably is and can’t wait to go to Paris and see most things that were in the movie Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris was truly spectacular and got me very excited for the days when we get to stroll through the magical streets of Paris. The movie portrays the city in a fairy-tale like way through the music and the magnificent scenery Paris has to offer. The Music was one of my favorite parts. It seemed to be the perfect background to capture the whole essence of beauty the city has to offer. I loved how Paris becomes the center of art and culture throughout time. The idea that you should live in the present as discovered by the main character Gil by going back in time to experience it himself, only to learn that the great artists of that time wish they were back in yet another time in which they saw to be the greatest, is best captured by taking place in Paris for it has always been the center of art and literature. It was a great place to show that the “greatest time” for art and literature is always changing. When Gil learns this he returns to present times to make it another “great time.” I also loved how the 20’s portrayed Paris. Just like it is today, it was one of the greatest cities during that time, a place where all the greatest of Art and literature gathered, just as beautiful as it is today. Night also portrayed the city in a wonderful way. It brought the city to life in a magical way. Gil took advantage of that and spent nights strolling through the streets until something truly magical happened when he found himself in another decade. This movie also did a great job of showing all the love Paris has. Known as the city of love, from this movie you really do fall in love…with the city. It takes a special kind of person to find this love; someone who already has the love for art and culture like Gil. Other characters that don’t share the same love, like his fiancé Inez, look right past the city. After learning all I did about this city through the movie, I cannot wait to fall in love with the city myself.
I learned so much from the movie about the city of love, which will make our trip there even more special. I learned how much of an impact the city has on one falling in love. The city brings out ones true self the magical feeling it carries. This tends to bring two people together to fall in love. In Gil’s case, he learns that Inez is not the girl for him and that he truly belongs in Paris, with someone who loves the city as much as him.
I also learned how much of an inspiration the city was for many artists and writers throughout history. Throughout the movie, when Gil travels back in time he comes across many artists living in Paris producing some of their best pieces of work. He also finds inspiration in the city to work on and improve his novel. I cannot wait to travel through the city that inspired so many wonderful pieces of art and to see a lot of it in the artwork at the Louvre, the architecture throughout the city and to visit these places of inspiration like the lily ponds.
Another main idea of the movie is to not take beauty for granted. Inez takes the whole city for granted which pushes Gil away from her. He sees the city as so much more than she does. Things as simple as walking through the streets of Paris rather than taking a cab lead to Gil falling in love. I hope that after watching this movie, everyone feels as Gil does when we walk through Paris. I hope we all feel the impact of its beauty and fall in love with it. That will be the best way to truly experience the city, by appreciating every little aspect of this city of love.
It is amazing how the music changes the entire atmosphere. I don’t know enough about music to say why, but that music seemed very Paris to me.
Pretend for a moment that you were going to Paris alone, or at least had a day totally on your own to explore and experience whatever you wanted. Where do you go? What do you do?
If I could spend a day alone in Paris I would spend it walking through the streets just like Gil did to experience the true feeling of Paris life. Then I would find and talk to a (English-speaking) local about the greatest way to truly experience the city that isn’t a just another tourist trap. That way I receive the true feeling of the culture of Paris.
I like it.
I happen to love old movies so I really enjoyed it, I thought it was right up my ally. I do agree with what Jaden said, everyone is missing the moral of the story, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
Old movies!?!? This movie was made in 2011!
I’m glad you agree with Jaden, because so do I.
What did you think of the movie as a whole? What did you take away from it? What does it make you want to see and do while in Paris?
I liked the movie because it was different. I really liked the scenery in it. Also I mostly enjoyed the movie when Gil was in the 1920’s in the movie. This movie also gave me an idea to what Paris looks like. One thing that had an impact on me was scenery because it was beautiful and it was very special to Gil and I think it is great to look at. Another thing is people can fall in love with Paris because they love it so much because it is unique with the art and the scenery. The last thing is old Paris. I love history and I thought it was interesting when the movie was back in the 1920’s and how Gil was able to see it and got to see famous writers and go to parties. After seeing this movie I just really can’t wait any longer because I am just so excited to go.
Now that you’ve watched, and enjoyed, the movie – what, specifically, do you want to do while you’re in Paris?
I would go spend my whole day at The Louvre Museum because it includes famous paintings and it contains old artifacts from ancient Egypt. I really love old history.
Matt, I would also spend a whole day at the Louvre Museum. I would probably get lost but I would see a lot of great things!
Midnight In Paris taught the history of Paris. The movie told us about the history of authors and artists living in the 1920’s. Midnight in Paris also showed some of the sculptures or other important things that we might see while we are in Paris. Also the movie told us reasons other people visit Paris. And They told us the weather of Paris.
Specifically, what did you learn from the movie? Your answers so far are very vague. I want to know how the movie made you feel, what you want to see in Paris, what you took away from the film…
I learned the famous artists and writers from the 20’s in Paris. Hemingway, Zelda, and Scott Fitzgerald, and Picasso. The movie made me want to read their books, and see their paintings. I took that Paris was the best place for writers and artists.
Why do you think so many American artists and authors wanted to live in Paris during that time?
American artists and authors went to Paris to find direction. They were looking for their creative voice or artistic story. Following World War I and before World War II, the artists, authors, musicians were confused about who they were so they went to Paris to work in a community of other authors, artists, musicians, and to find out how to express themselves. They also hoped that Paris would give them creative ideas because of it’s magic and beauty. There were also lots of other artists there from other countries who could help them too. They would all get together at parties and talk about their arts.
Why do you think they chose Paris instead of London, Madrid, or Rome?
Authors and artists chose Paris to visit because like you said and Gil said in the movie, there is something “magical” about Paris. It is the city that helps to get your creative juices flowing.
Have you ever been anywhere that felt or seemed magical? What was it like?
When I first read about what the movie was about I wasn’t that excited about watching it because I thought it was going to be one of those movies that just showed all of the big attractions of Paris. As I began watching the movie though I found that the movie was very good because it showed so many aspects of Paris that aren’t as known, such as the Eiffel Tower, but are just as magnificent. One thing I learned from this movie that is going to make my Parisian experience better is to not focus on the big things because the little things can be just as amazing. I am now more excited to see things such as small cafés or bookstores rather than the Eiffel Tower. Another thing that I learned is that the very famous writers and artists that did their work in Paris didn’t just have the easiest lives and they didn’t just write one good thing and became famous. They had to go through a lot and they had to live quite a confusing or hard life to become how amazing they are at their craft. They also worked very hard at their job. People such as Scott Fitzgerald who had to be constantly under the idea that Zelda could be impacting his writing and he had to deal with trying to convince people that he was doing just fine, even with her, while they were all about him focusing more on his work. The final thing I learned from this movie that will impact my trip to Paris is that I should cherish the time that I’m there because I might not get that chance ever again and that there’s something new to learn every minute that I’m in Paris. There are so many interesting things I can see or hear or even eat and around every corner there is something new to see. In the movie Gil says “You look around and every street, every boulevard is its own special art form.” I completely agree with this statement because there is so many things to see and I hope to learn so many things during our trip to Paris.
Great attitude, Nikki. I’m so glad this movie could open your eyes to the wonders of the “little things,” because the little things are so much more meaningful that the big things.
Now, pretend for a moment that you and your mom decided to step away from the group for one day in Paris. She tells you that the day’s activities are 100% up to you. What do you do for a day in Paris?
The first thing we would do is wake up and go to a little café for breakfast and try something that we normally wouldn’t have in the U.S. After our breakfast we would go to a bookstore and look around for a while. Both me and my mom kind of have a obsession with reading so we would get some kind of book from the bookstore to have as a souvenir. After that we would kind of just walk around for a while, looking in stores, maybe going to a park. Then we would go out for lunch at a small little resturaunt, one that appears to maybe be not as well known as the others. Those kind of resturaunts are my favorite because it feels like they are just a little place that only a few people know of and I’m apart of those few people. After that we would go to maybe a theatre show, a museum to see some different pieces of art, or we would visit a church to look at the way their architecture is. Then when it’s time for dinner we would go to another café just to have a simple meal to wind down the day. After we were done with dinner we would just walk around for a while, maybe sit on a bench and just watch the people in Paris, observe what it’s like to live there. Finally we would go back to our hotel and fall asleep and wake up ready for whatever we would do the next day.
That sounds like a pretty perfect plan.
I thought the movie was great. It was a fun way of learning some French history. The characters in the movie did a good job of showing the beauty in Paris, they showed that you don’t have to be doing big adventurous activities to enjoy yourself. Simply taking a walk and taking in the scenery is an adventure enough, at least for me it is. Watching this movie helped me realize that while we are on our trip we should take in the little things that are different from the United States. How the people act and what they do. What the shops on the street look like and even the streets themselves. How people walk all over the city versus people driving all over the city here. While I am in Europe I will be taking all of these things in. In the movie Gil was taking in all of the scenery on his walks but he was doing much more than that. He noticed the culture of the people as well. What I think is important to do while we are in Europe is to explore and learn as much as we can. The people, art, scenery, music, and the food are all important aspects that everyone should take in while visiting all of the different places. The movie also helped me understand more about French history. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know most of the names of the people in the movie but I think that is a reason why this movie was picked. So we can learn the important people of that time. So we can read about them and realize what they accomplished and how it impacted Paris and the people of that time and all of the people after that time. Gil had so much respect for the people he visited and wanted to know more about them, and that’s what this movie did to me. I want to know more about the important figures of that time so when I am actually there I know what they did and how they contributed to history. Knowing the history of a building or a piece of artwork can make our trip more enjoyable. Lastly, this movie showed me that it is important to try and talk to the people who actually live there and listen to what they have to say about an artifact or a building. When Gil talked to some of the people who lived there he seemed happier about his trip and had more knowledge about where he was.
I don’t know you very well yet, Cayla, but I can tell, just from that paragraph, that you are going to love this trip. You’re right – the little things are what makes this an amazing experience. Anyone can snap pictures of the famous landmarks, but to recognize and embrace the little things is what makes you a traveler instead of a tourist (big difference).
If you had a day on your own (maybe a few close friends) in Paris – what do you do with it?
Cayla, I completely agree with your response. It’s the little things that will make the biggest impact on our trip and will help us create a true picture of what another culture is really like. Also I agree that talking to the locals will create a better picture of their culture as well. I can’t wait for our trip when we get to embrace all the history and clture these great cities hold.
Thought the movie was good. It made me more sure on what I want to see in France. I really liked the historic value of it. I liked how Paris changed Gil. I hope that it will change my life just about the same way. I thought that Hemingway was a total jerk and that some the of the places he was were pretty cool. It made me want to see some Picasso. I also learned that the past is way cooler than the present. It made me really want to see how tall the Eiffel Tower is in real life.
Be more specific – what about history did you take away? How do you want it to change you? What places seemed cool? What do you want to do and see in Paris?
To be truthful I didn’t enjoy the movie that much. I felt like there have been many books and movies about time travel and this movie didn’t really stand out. When I was watching the movie it was a bit boring because I felt like it was the same old thing that I’ve seen plenty of times before. However I did enjoy the scenery in the movie and I hope when we go on our trip we get to visit those places. The first thing that I learned from this movie that not all history is 100% confirmed to be true and it could be wrong. In one of the scenes Gil from his experiences in the past knows the actual inspiration for the painting and the previously thought inspiration turned out to be wrong. This was one of my favorite scenes from the movie and it is one of the things that will be in the back of my head during the trip.
The second thing I learned from this movie is how rich the history of Paris is. I had no idea how many famous authors and painters were from Paris and it is very intriguing and I am compelled to learn more about the history of Paris. There also places in Paris that are extremely old and I would love to visit them. Finally, the third thing I learned from the movie is that just about everyone that is involved with someone who is great and famous is that they are considered great and famous too. Gertrude Stein might not have been that good at critiquing Hemingway’s stories but his stories were great so she is considered great. I’m not saying that she wasn’t great but she might not have been as good as we think she is. This will be something I’ll think about often learning about all of these people for our trip.
Is it really a time travel movie in the same way that Back to the Future or Terminator is?
I would suggest you read Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. It’s a very short piece of non-fiction that talks about Paris in the 20s, and his friendship with Stein, Fitzgerald, and some of those other artists/authors. I think you’d enjoy it.
Sounds good I’ll try to read it. I see your point about the time travel. I felt like the process was interesting, but it didn’t really make scientific sense. Considering how the movie was none of it made sense in scientific terms so that didn’t bother me that much. When he is shocked and such getting used to the new time period I was a bit bored for sure. In basically every time travel movie they have this scene. I liked it a lot better when he was used to it on the other nights and that he became friends with all the famous people. Those were my favorite parts of the movie.
I get what you are saying Ryan. Because so many of these artists were hanging out with these other great artists they were great, but if they had been hanging out with other average or bad artists they wouldn’t be considered great. Just like a soccer team. A strong player on a weak team will make him look like a weaker player, but a strong player on a strong team looks even stronger. The artists were like that.
This movie was really good and interesting. I enjoyed the story line a lot and I would probably watch it again. The characters and how they are portrayed in the movie is so different from anything I’ve ever watched. I like the fact that Gil gets to know his idols and experience the people and things he has admired his whole life. I think this movie will help me appreciate things better on our trip, one of the things I believe I will appreciate more are all of the little things that a trip to Paris has to offer. For example, I have always dreamed of going to Paris since I was little and so traveling there will give me the satisfaction of fufilling that dream. Another thing this movie will help me do is to not just look forward to seeing the famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, but to also look forward to experiencing things like the street lights at night, the accents, the rain, and the people. The last thing that this movie will help me with is to remember all of the amazing history that happened in Paris. In the movie, it seemed like wherever Gil went, something amazing and historical took place there and that definitely should not be taken for granted.
Molly, since you’ve been dreaming of this for years, what would a perfect day in Paris look like to you? What would you do/see/experience?
Molly, since you’ve been dreaming of this for years, what would a perfect day in Paris look like to you? What would you do/see/experience?
A perfect day in Paris for me would definitely include seeing the famous things like the Eiffel Tower, but since seeing this movie I realized that I want to go into all of the little shops. I want to see the bookstores and cafés. Like I said, this movie made me realize that just because they aren’t as famous, doesn’t mean you should not experience the little things because they could be your favorite.
First of all I am pretty mad because I did this but I did it under the wrong email. I thought the movie was pretty good it was definitely better than I expected. One thing I learned is Paris is a lot more beautiful than I expected. Another thing is history is all around Paris its like you cant go anywhere in Paris that does not have history. One last thing is I hope it will rain when we are in Paris.
That’s a pretty vague answer, Evan. In what ways was the movie better than you expected? What did you expect, and how did it exceed those expectations? In what ways is Paris more beautiful than you expected? Please be specific in your answers.
The whole movie was better than I expected. Before I did not want to watch the movie but after I watched it I actually enjoyed watching it. I expected the movie was going to be a romantic movie or just a stupid movie. It exceeded those expectations by having so humor a good story and good characters. Paris is more beautiful than I expected because the old buildings are cool looking and just everything is cool how it is.
Which buildings? What makes them cool to look at?
I am really looking forward seeing the Eiffel Tower and hopefully will get to hear some of the music that is so unique to Paris.
I am looking forward to see the same things
I thought the movie was excellent. I admired the way the plot took the main character back in time and the fact that you can see all the different characters and personalities from another era. The movies way of showing the art and how people back in time thought it was a disgrace and how in current time people think its beautiful is tremendous. I learned to look at the little things. The best example that I found was the picture Picasso painted. Gil is getting to live his dream and I feel as if there is a lesson to be learned by that because he was inspired to stay in Paris. The last thing I learned from the movie is that its important to be yourself and live your dreams to your full potential. If Gil didn’t call off the engagement and stay in Paris there is no way he could be as happy. He learned because of his fiancée that he loves Paris and he doesn’t want to leave it. One last thing that I loved about the movie is how the name went along with the story line. I understand that its a minor detail but the movie shows that you should admire the little things.
So what did this movie make you want to do/see/experience while in Paris?
The movie really made me want to see the lights in Paris and just how beautiful it is in reality. If its anything like the movie it will be an amazing sight to see.
II agree with Jackie. The movie is interesting in the history and how it jumps back in time. i liked seeing the authors and artists who were living in Paris in the 1920’s.
I thought this movie was a very fascinating movie. I think it was very informative on life in the 1920s. Something that this movie has taught me is to never get discouraged by anyone or anything. For example in the movie, Inez didn’t believe in Gil’s dream of traveling and writing a novel but he continues to pursue it anyways. I have also learned from this film that you are never alone. Even if you think you are, your’e not. For example in the movie Inez didn’t believe in Gils dream so at times he felt alone but soon realized he wasn’t. What this movie has also taught me was that you need to surround yourself with people that support you and believe in what your’e doing. To me, The over all message of this movie is to stay active in your dream. Without Gil calling off the engagement he would have been miserable and not doing what he loves the most.
Some fantastic points, Courtney, now what impression did the movie give you of Paris?
If you were in Gil’s position, would you leave someone like that to follow your dream?
I enjoyed the movie mostly for the settings. It would be really hard not to fall in love with a City as beautiful as this movie makes Paris out to be. The places that interested me and I would like to see are (1) Steps of St. Etienne du Mont, Gill comes to these steps to travel back into the past. Pretty important part of the movie. (2) 27 rue de Fleurus- This is Gertrudes home, Hemingway brings Gill to her for advise on writing. I feel by meeting Gertrude, Gills writing takes off. (3) The place I want to see the most, Pont Alexandre 111 (Bridge over Seine) the movie caught my attention that Gill wants to see Paris at night in the rain. This scene he finally gets the chance. It really did look absolutely beautiful.
Besides the locations, was there anything you took away from the movie?
I never really learned about artists or writers from the past. This movie helped me learn somethings about these famous people. I has heard the names before, but could never had told you what they were famous for. Now in talking to my grandparents over the Holiday weekend, I was telling them about my homework and was able to have a conversation and explain these famous people.
So what does that teach you that will help make your trip better?
This will make my trip better because when we visit museums and other places I will be familiar with the works of Piaccio and Hemingway
I thought this movie was interesting and enjoyable to watch. First of all, it taught about a new time period (the 1920’s) that I knew nothing about. I found that time period to be fascinating, because of how many famous artists and writers came from the same era. I also found the clothing to be cool. I thought it was exciting to see places in Paris that we might see, but also places that aren’t very well known. I was able to see some of the culture and things people from Paris would enjoy. I learned that artists and writers are often misunderstood. You can’t really know what their intentions are and we can only see their work the way we want to see it. By visiting Paris I might be able to learn more about some of these people, such as Hemingway, Picasso, Stein and other people represented in the movie. I would like to visit some of the places they hung out together. I also learned from Gil in the part when Audriana wanted to stay in 1890. He understood that we can’t continue to move back in time, because we will never be happy and always want to keep going to new times. We have to live in our time, but learn about the past by traveling to places and reading about their history. Finally, I learned that throughout time Paris has changed some and become more modern. The movie showed what might have been there in the 1920’s compared to now. But, much of it has also stayed the same.
If you had to choose just one thing to see (from the movie) in Paris, what would it be?
I think the Robin Museum because it seemed very interesting in the movie
I’ve never been inside the Rodin Museum, but the gardens outside (which is where they were in the movie) are really neat.
The flowers would be very interesting to see as well, they looked really pretty in the movie and the flowers they have there are not flowers I get to see everyday.
Try doing a bit of research to see what types of flowers we might see there. That’s an interesting thought, because I don’t know if anyone has focused on flowers during the 10 years of TAP. You might be the first.
I found something that I thought was really interesting about flowers, so besides tulips which is the most popular flower in Amsterdam, I found a flower called dutch ladies. The interesting part about them is after they are cut or pulled they keep growing. I found this really cool because I didn’t know that was possible for a flower nor have I ever seen a flower do that
I would like to see Gertrude Stein’s house. I think it would be interesting to go to the place where famous authors and artists met. I feel like it would be exciting to visit the place where legendary people from the 1920’s would gather.
Bad news, Emilee. Gertrude Stein’s apartment building is still there, but… It is a private residence, so it is not open to the public. During our free time, you can walk by and see the outside of it, but I’m afraid that’s it.
If you want to “see” what it was like there, you could read her novel (I know, this title doesn’t make it sound like a novel, but it is) The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, which tells the story of Stein, and her girlfriend Alice’s, time living in Paris, including a lot of the 1920s.
I simply learned a couple things after watching this movie Never give up on your dream! No matter how hard it is, and even if someone or some people don’t believe you can achieve your dream, you can always make it, if you believe in yourself and set your mind to it. And, it is not super easy to pursue your goal.mtthere will always be obstacles you have to get past. Those were the two main messages that I believe were of that movie. Gil demonstrated this really well! His dream was to stay in Paris. It wasn’t easy for him at first, because he had to really decide, and also, he had to deal with Inez’s mouth and her lack of support. But, he believed that he can stay in Paris because that was his dream. Sure enough, he was able to stay! He suffered through to obstacles, and believed in himself. That is all what it takes for you to achieve your dream.
And Jaden, you are absolutely right. Gil should not get back together with Inez. If he did, his dream would be crushed and he would have to move back to America. They would end up disagreeing and fighting again, and that would lead to another break up. It’ll just be a continuous cycle.
The movie Midnight in Paris was such an interesting and entertaining movie to watch. To me the movie did start about a bit slow, the all the scenery and music made it get more enjoyable. The movie made me so exited to just experience Paris itself. For me I think just walking down a street and talking it a Parisian would be an amazing experience. This film was able to show a man who wasn’t completely happy in his time and wasn’t in love with his fiancé, but was in love with the city itself. When Gil was able to travel in time he kept going back, I think this is because he wanted to learn first hand about this time. Also to help him remember why he loved writing, by speaking with great authors of that time. I liked that Gil was interested in the whole city of Paris instead of the normal famous landmarks that make the city famous, he was interested in what made Paris, Paris. Firstly, I loved the all the backgrounds, the the music to the actual scenery. These things made me feel that I was in 1920s Paris with Gil. I loved all the lights and music that came with the time he was in. I liked how the movie showed small shops as well as cafés that make up Paris instead of places the entire world knows of, like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre. Seeing places like this in the movie makes me exited to actually visit them instead of the famous places we’ve heard about our whole lives.
I also really enjoyed the insight of Paris in the 1920s from people who loved in the time. Seeing what Paris looked like, there has really been no major architectural changes to the city. Of course there are some changes like new hotels or shopping centers, but the things that makeup Paris are still there. When Gil went back to the ’20s he was able to navigate to city pretty well as there wasn’t much dramatic changes to the city. When Gil was with the both the Fitzgerald’s and Hemingway he was able to learn more about the past and how they lived. When Hemingway said he’d give his book to Stein, Gil got so exited because even now Stein is still known today. When Stein went through and read his book it made a huge jump in his writing abilities to learn and get help from someone with great skills. This movie made me realize again why I’ve always had a love for Paris since I was little.
So what is a perfect day in Paris to you, Gillian?
To me a perfect day in Paris would just be exploring the whole city. There isn’t one specific place I’d like like to see. I want to see the city as a whole and what makes up Paris, of couse I’d like to see the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, but to me seeing places that not as many people know of would be so much more interesting.
It’s a huge city, it might take you several weeks to see the whole thing – so narrow it down. If you only had one day, what would you do? Be specific.
After watching this great movie It makes me want to go to Paris to admire the old buildings on the narrow streets. The background of the whole movie was like a painting that just goes on forever. Every little part of the city is unique in its own special way and I agree with Gil living there sounds like a pretty good idea. Something that I learned in this movie that I really want to study would be Pablo Picasso paintings. He painted about his mistress in the 1920’s. It was so unique and it has a story behind it that just gets more interesting the more you here about it. Another thing that I learned about Paris was it looks more beautiful in the rain Gil said and I agree. I would love to walk in Paris when it is raining out that would be something that I would love to do to admire its beauty. The music that was playing in the background was so classic and something different then what we listen to now on the radio station. I think the music is refreshing and inspiring. I learned so much in this movie Midnight to Paris and now I am inspired to travel to the city. It is my dream and I agree with Gil that you should never give up on your dream no matter what. He should not get back together with Inez I totally agree.
Picasso was cool. You’d have to find a way to see his work during your freetime, because we aren’t visiting the Picasso Museum as a group.
Is there anything else you really want to see now?
Another place that I would love to see would have to be Monet’s Garden in Giverny, it is west of Paris. When Gil visited this place it looked so pretty and I decided to do some research on it. Monet saw this garden through a train window and he found a house there. So he moved in with his lady friend. This is something that I think everyone would like to see.
Since you’ve already done some research, you should write one of your articles on Monet’s Gardens. It is someplace that we are going.
I would say I have to agree with Alexis about how the background of the movie was like a painting that just goes on for ever. Also I agree on how she said Paris looks more beautiful in the rain from the movie. Also like Alexis said I would like to also walk around Paris when it’s raining too.
This didn’t really seem like a movie i would like, because of all the romance but i just really liked seeing all the places like the Louve and the Eiffel tower and just thinking that in a year i will be in those exact places. it was also fun to think about how Paris will affect me the same ways it affected Gil.
Connor,
This is a very short, vague post and it really doesn’t answer any of the questions we were asking. What did you take away from the movie? Be specific, not just list two buildings. You say you want it to impact you the same way it did Gil, but what does that mean? How was Gil impacted? What do you want to experience?
I absolutely adored the first four minutes of the film. It gives us a little tour of Paris and shows us the beautiful scenery. I cannot wait to actually be on that tour next year. I loved how Gil is in love with Paris and the way his character really takes in the beauty of it all. Also the way Gil was so fascinated by the little things that make up the city instead of just the big famous landmarks that the average person would normally just be interested in. He see’s beyond everything and because of that people do not admire him the way he should be. Three things that I learned from this film is the reason why Hemmingway was such a good writer in the film as he is talking to Gil. Gil says to him that his book is a very good book and he replies back by saying “…It was a good book because it was an honest book.”. I love honest writers, movies, etc. I also learned that Picasso’s paintings were judged by so many people and the people in his era didn’t really like the paintings but all the eras after that tried to be as good as him and his paintings. Which taught me that everyone see’s everything differently. The way I see something might not be the way someone else would see it. The Fitzgerald’s had to go through so much, people such as Scott are so inspirational because so many people were trying to convince him that Zelda was impacting his writing but he loved her, he knew she was a little crazy and maybe she did impact his writing but love always wins. I feel that this whole movie will help me and everyone on this trip. There were so many facts and new things that I have learned. Even if you are not going on this trip it is just wonderful knowledge to have.
Is there something in Paris that you want to see or experience more now than you did before watching the movie?
I really enjoyed this movie and all of the lessons learned throughout. I believe the movie showed some great insight into how we are the ones who will make or break our trip. The attitude we keep through the trip will make the experience better or worse. So, Gil shows what a perfect attitude would be inside of Paris, he is open to experiencing the city and really embracing what it is all about. Meanwhile, Inez is more focused on the more expensive clubs, etc. and spending time with her friends, not truly grasping the real purpose of being in the wonderful city of Paris. The movie was also entertaining and I enjoyed how all of the characters and their roles were grasped. I learned that we should open to the new opportunities inside of Paris, and all of the other cities too. Although we should go there knowing information and be prepared, it might be a great thing to try something completely unexpected there, on the spot. Gil opens up to getting a little lost and just letting things happen and he learns a lot and is able to make his trip much better. I also learned that being worried about your friends and pleasing those around you on the trip will not help. You should worry about really embracing the history, feeling the people around and just taking it all in before worrying about your best friend who comes home with you. Adding to that, you really need to take the time to pay attention to the foreigners around you, make friends and talk to them, it will make the trip all that much more enjoyable. On top of all of this, I was able to learn about Hemmingway and many other famous people who contributed to European literature. Overall, the movie helped me understand a lot and has made me more prepared for this amazing trip.
In what specific way do you think you’re better prepared now?
I didn’t really like the movie. It kind of left me confused even though he said he wanted to be back in a time when there were famous writers, painters and singers how someone would want to be back in a time like that. Me and my generation are all about the internet and where we can get our next wireless connection. I don’t see the appeal to going back to that time period but that is why we are all different.
Next, the movie showed many sites like the Eiffel Tower which seemed even more real than the other pictures I have seen. I want to be one of the people standing in front of it taking pictures. I never realized that so many writers, painters and singers spent time in Paris in the 1920’s. I had heard of some of the names but many I did not know. It will mean more to see those painters art in the Louvre. I noticed there was a lot of different types of wine in the movie. I know there will be lots of new types of food even though we didn’t see it. I know we can’t drink but my mom likes wine (and a lot of times asks me if I want cheese to go with mine (whine not wine)). She would really like that part of it.
I did notice that the streets, cars and people are all closer together and no one seems to mind. I am not sure if I will fit in any of the cars but my mom says I can be strapped on top. After seeing the movie it makes me want to go even more and I can’t wait for the trip.
I think you got the point, Scotty. Gil wanted to be back in a time when life was simpler and we weren’t so worried about wifi and cell service, but could focus on stuff that really matters.
What are you looking forward to most in Paris?
I am kinda looking forward to seeing the mona lisa in person because I have seen it so many times on tv that I want to see it with my own eyes. Also want to see the Eiffel Tower and how long it took people to build it.
Just a quick question, I am sure was already answered- so sorry, how do I turn in my choices for articles and how do I find out if my article about Liberty Leading The People was accepted. I was sick for the meeting.
Thanks!
Look at the list of topics on http://www.tapopedia.wikispaces.com and pick three topics. Then email me with your choices.
Midnight in Paris was a very good movie. in the beginning, i felt like i could relate a lot to Gil as he was having his creative block and searching for inspiration in history. i found it really cool, however, that he was actually able to go back in time to his favorite era. although, i couldn’t stop myself from resenting Inez how she was so obsessed with thinking Gil was insane and not listening to what he had to say. i also didn’t like how she was so set on sticking to her schedule and not going on adventures to experience the city. i was so happy when her and Gil broke up. in spite of that, this movie was very educational on the culture and past of Paris. before watching this movie, i didn’t know much about 1920’s Paris. i was surprised with how many people i knew from that era, though! especially with the music, there were some real classics! i definitely love how the music was tied in so well with the time periods that this took place in, how Gil got to meet the artists and then see the old records in a shop in real-time. in essence, this is a great movie about falling in love with a beautiful city that is full of life and culture beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. i cannot wait to see Paris for myself and seeing the culture firsthand.
What would be your perfect day in Paris?
for me personally, a perfect day in Paris would be as follows. first, i would find a local café to have breakfast at. then, i would walk around and go see little shops and small businesses around the city. after that i’d go visit historic landmarks and important places. i’d end the day by watching the sun set.
Come on, Taylor – you can be more specific than that. What is the cafe like in your mind? What are you looking for in those shops? What catches your eye? Which landmarks are a must see?
okay, okay. here are all the pesky “show, don’t tell” details. in my mind, when i walk into the cafe, i am greeted by the warm smell of coffee and the compassion of the employees. it would be a old family business that has been passed down through many generations. i picture the cafe being decorated by historic french photographs and old newspaper clippings. when i go to order, i can picture the employee beginning to speak in french, but after realizing i am a foreigner, they would speak english with a few errors here and there. as i wait they would make small talk with me about the city and the sights to be seen and telling me things i need to see that aren’t on travel websites. when i exit the shop i would be back on a stretch of road that is very similar to the road Gil was on in Midnight in Paris with many of those family owned shops. the shop’s goods would range from artwork to baguettes to vintage items. i would make my way through all the shops, in awe of all the culture these items hold and how many stories one inanimate object can tell. sadly, i would tell myself i can’t buy anything because i know i would buy everything. after that, i would walk around and look at everything. old buildings, people, couples on a “romantic” getaway to Paris, etc. i would bask in all stories of all the people and buildings and how they have evolved from what they were to what they are. depending on where in the city i am, i would either walk or catch a cab to see some landmarks. personally for me, the Eiffel tower is the most important landmark. although, i would like to see the catacombs of Paris, the Louvre, Disneyland Paris (just to see how different it is), along with the Arc de Triomphe. i would definitely love to see the Mona Lisa, though.
I think my perfect day would be going to the Louvre museum to see the paintings and seeing the artifacts.
Do a bit of research. What do you want to see in the Louvre?
I enjoyed watching The Midnight in Paris. The scenery of the movie allowed me to view areas i’m interested in visiting on our trip. I feel that in some ways I relate to gill, both of us enjoy the little things when going on vacation. I thought how Gil’s ability to time to travel was a great opportunity for us to learn a little about Paris’ history. Another thing I enjoyed about the was the music. When I visit new places i like listening to what type of music they prefer because it tells me about what type of people they are. I noticed a lot of classical music or instrumental music. I imagine people who listen to music like that to be intelligent or intellectuals. For example, there was one character in the movie from Paris who was smart and new tons of facts, so my prediction was somewhat true. I also noticed that Paris In the 1920s wasn’t too different from present day Paris. Although they dressed different, most of the architecture style remained the same. Overall, I enjoyed the movie because it taught me to enjoy the little things on a trip and not to stress about seeing landmarks that you can see on google.
You seemed to focus on the music quite a bit – what was it about that music that you enjoyed?
I enjoyed the music because it is different from the typical American music. Most Americans listen to pop, rock, or rap, it’s not quite often that a persons favorite style of music is classical. I just thought it was something different between Paris and America.
I agree with Maya and how the scenery of the movie allowed me to view areas that might interest me in Paris. I also thinks that Gil’s time travel was a great way to learn a little bit about Paris’s history.
I have never been a fan of romantic comedies, and don’t think I ever will. But for Midnight In Paris, I’ll make an exception. I was so taken in even the first few minuets of the movie. One of my many favorite parts of the movie is the intro. The clips of the pedestrian streets, sidewalk cafes, The Pyramide du Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe not only gave us the setting of the film, but also a sneak peak of the wonderful things we will get to see and experience while in Paris. Owen Wilson played the part of Gil really amazing. Gil saw the true beauty of Paris throughout the entire movie, unlike his fiancé and her parents. Gil showed his true passion for the city quoting Ernest Hemingway describing Paris as “a moveable feast”. Which is later shot down by Helen as she says, “In this traffic, nothing moves.” Not to be judge-mental, but I always saw Inez and her family didn’t appreciate the little things about Paris as Gil did. Gil always saw the inner beauty of Paris. I will have to say even though I’ve only seen Paris in pictures and this movie, I agree with Gil that Paris looks the most beautiful in the rain. Even though this isn’t a true story, I still had a few moments of jealousy when Gil met F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author who wrote The Great Gatsby, and Pablo Picasso, one of the worlds most renown artists. What this movie taught me was to be more like Gil not only in Paris, but wherever I travel in the world. Gil showed us that even the everyday streets in have an inner beauty, not just the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum.
I don’t think I’d really call this one a romance or a comedy to be honest with you. Sure, there are people who are couples, but that’s not really the point of the movie.
Compare what Gil felt about Paris to the way you felt about some of the places you’ve been – London, York, Bath, Warsaw, Krakow, Vienna, or Prague. Did you have the same feelings about any of those places when you walked around as Gil has about Paris? What was that like? Share with the kids who haven’t been to as many awesome places as you have.
THIS COMMENT IS FROM EMMA PIENKOS, her computer won’t cooperate with our site for some reason.
I thought that the movie was great! It was not only entertaining, but I felt that I honestly learned a lot from watching this movie and meeting the different characters throughout the plot. The character Gil was especially my favorite character. I felt that I could relate a lot to Gil. It seems somewhat confusing that I have the feeling of relating to him, because I have never had the chance to travel anywhere that has been far away from home before. In the movie Gil feels that Paris is better than home and he loves all the opportunity to experience so many new things. Although I haven’t necessarily traveled very far away from home in my life so far, I have gotten the chance to travel within the country and experience some pretty amazing things. I feel like I relate to Gil’s love of being away from home and stepping out of the comforts that home offers. Gil gave up many comforts in his life such as his job and his fiancé. It made me realize that this is a something that many people are afraid of doing. Keeping this in mind will make my experience in Paris more valuable because our time in Paris will offer a lot of great experiences and I want to make sure to not limit myself and what all I can experience while there. Before watching the movie, I didn’t know hardly anything about the Lost Generation. I knew who most of the most famous people in that generation were; I had just never really thought to do much research on it because I don’t really have a huge interest in writing or in art. Now that I have learned much more about this group of people, I have much more of an appreciation for how much this group of people changed literature and art. Even though I don’t necessarily have an interest in my life, it’s interesting to me how much this group of people changed so many other peoples’ lives. This will make my experience in Paris better because this group of people had such an impact on Paris culture. I feel like now I have a greater understanding of the history behind the culture of Paris. From watching this movie I also feel like my stereotype of Paris has been broken. I used to think that Paris was the “city of love,” but now that I have watched this movie and done research I know how much of an amazing culture and history the city has. There is so much great literature, music, art, and food that has been created and inspired by the city of Paris. Watching this movie has really added to my excitement for the trip even more.
If you could be Gil for a day and wander Paris (any time period), what would you do?
If I got the opportunity, I would probably go back to Paris during the 1920’s or during the 1930’s. Both of these decades brought huge steps in music, especially jazz music. I’ve always had a love for music and Paris during that time was home to many of the leaders of the beginnings of jazz music. If I got the chance I would love to visit some of the jazz clubs and venues.
Jazz isn’t always the most popular music in your age group. What draws you to jazz?
I like jazz because it’s a lot less structured than other types of music. I really like how jazz music doesn’t always follow specific rules, and that it’s really up to the musician. By being in band and joining the jazz band at our school, I’ve gotten this experience and I’ve loved it. Jazz really sets apart musicians and allows the listeners to get more of the personal style of the musician.
I don’t usually like romance movies or movies without action, But i really liked this movie. it just really drew me in. I took away from the movie the fact that the most unexpected things cam happen when we are on our trip. For instance, we may find ourselves s a little detour that takes us somewhere totally unexpected or maybe find something really cool that we never would have found. anything could happen, just like n the movie (except time travel). What happened in the movie also impacted Gil in a very strong way and made him move to Paris, Break up with his fiancee and continue writing his book. Paris will probably also impact me in a similar way by making me do what i never expected. before Like writing my own book or making ne want to visit all over again with my family or just move their when i get older.. Just like Gil I want to experience as much as i can when i visit Paris so that i take away so many positive experiences. One of the thing i want to do is just walk the streets and see all of the things that you see in the movies like the cafes, and shops. I also want to go to the museums and see all of the priceless works of are up close and personal and take many pictures to remember those moments. The last things i want to do are eat as much french food as i can and go up to the top of the Eiffel tower and see the city lights at night.
Connor, do a bit of research and pick a little “side trip” of something you’d be interested to see. Let us know what you’d choose.
Also, this is going online for hundreds of students and parents to see, so take a few moments at the end of your writing to check the spelling/typing. Mistakes happen, but lots of silly little errors make this great post look not as good.
The movie Midnight in Paris was an excellent movie. I learned a lot of things from watching this movie. Some of the things I learned from this movie was to not only accept the big things in life, but to also accept the little things in life because you never know what important details you can get from something small. After I watched this movie I also learned that people from each era didn’t accept all of the things that they had, because some of the people wanted to be in different time periods than the one there in. In the movie I liked how Gil accepted and loved the little things in Paris and not just the big things. Not a lot of people accepted Picasso’s painting that he did of a young women, in one era people thought that is was a failure, but in another era people thought that the painting was a great piece of art and accepted it. I loved how Gil never gave up his love for Paris even when he lost some of the people that he loved. Gil still walked the streets at night and was still writing his book when his fiancé got mad at him for not doing a lot of the things that she wanted to do. Gil loved walking around and night and in the rain, he accepted Paris’s beauty and I don’t think that Gil’s fiancé really accepted any of Paris’s beauty because she just wanted to have fun with friends. When It was raining one time in the movie Gil’s fiancé didn’t want to walk in the rain because she didn’t want to get wet and I don’t think she realized how beautiful Paris can be when it’s raining, but Gil wanted to walk in the rain because he admired Paris’s beauty. I think that Gil is strong for what he did and left his fiancé and didn’t publish his book for the beauty of Paris to live his dream because not a lot of people can do that.
So, what did you learn from this movie that will help make your trip better?
The movie was quite confusing at first. While my family and I were watching it, we had a little bit of trouble trying to figure out where Gil was going all the time. We thought he had gotten too drunk or something and was hallucinating everything. It wasn’t until the third or fourth night that we realized he was going back in time. But it was quite interesting nonetheless. I really loved how the historic characters interacted with each other. A few things I learned from this movie:
1, The depth of literature in French culture. I had previous knowledge of there being famous French literature, but I was unaware that it had such an incredible impact on the culture as a whole. Knowing this, I believe it’ll make the experience better by wanting to dive deeper into French literature and learn more about the culture,
2. French art. Art itself in any language and/or culture is incredible. However, it is also one of those things that appears like a puddle in the road. If you step into it, you’ll discover that it is incredibly deep or that it’s just a shallow covering with no depth. French art, more often than not, is that deep hole. There’s so much meaning in it just waiting to be discovered, and that’s what I’d like to do on the trip. Find incredible pieces of art and study them, discovering their meaning.
3. Although it wasn’t focused on much, there were hints of French music as well. It would play in the background a lot during different scenes. I myself am a primary learner by ear, so I am very attracted to music subconsciously. So when I heard the music, or what was presented anyways, I was immediately infatuated by it. This has made me want to go to musical museums and learn more about French music, and quite possibly see if I am able to find and visit small shops that sell French music.
How will a deeper understanding of literature, art, and music make your trip better?
If I was alone or had a few close friends with me I would want to get a coffee and sit outside the cafe and watch people walk by and see what they wear. I would then go shopping and buy some clothes that match the styles I saw since I know that Paris is know for its fashion. If I didn’t have to worry about the cost, I’d love to see a fashion show or two.
I enjoyed the movie Midnight in Paris because of the wonderful music and the interesting storyline of Gil going to the past and meeting famous artist, actors, writers, and musicians. I also like the movie because he experienced things that could only happen during the 1920’s time period. For example when Gil met Hemingway he told Gil to go to Gertrude Stein. Stein helped Gil revise his book making the book the best it could be.
From the movie I learned that when you travel to a city like Paris it’s nice to see the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa but you shouldn’t spend all your time trying to visit only famous places. I sort of view Paris like an amusement park I don’t want to wait in a long line to ride only the famous roller coaster, but I want to spend my time on other rides as well and experience more of what the park has to offer. I hope to experience simple things like a food I never tried but is popular in Paris and also visit monuments like the Arc de Triomphe, which is a monumental arch that represents French soldiers and French victories.
In viewing the video I learned that Paris has an interesting history. For example, in the 1920’s it was a popular place full of inspiration and art. After World War I many people from America had come home after the war. Unfortunately some after coming home were kicked out of their homes by their families. Those people decided to travel to Paris to inspire themselves and to find out what they wanted to do with their lives. Ernest Hemingway was someone who came home after the war and was kicked out so he traveled to Paris with others and he became inspired to write. With help from Gertrude Stein a person who helped new writers with their stories, and learning from other writers he became well known for his short stories. Others like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald also came from America and became famous for their books written in Paris. After their successful books they left Paris because of things falling apart like when they became divorced.
As well as having an interesting history Paris has many different places for inspiration for the arts, for example museums, restaurants, and scenery. During my visit I hope to become inspired with my music by the musical aspects of Paris.
The things I learned from the movie and the video postings will help with my experience in Paris because they made me curious and want to learn more.
So which “rides” do you want to ride the most?
Sorry I never got responded I would like to “ride” things like art museums or musical places or anything I find interesting really
I love the way Paris looks,the beginning of the movie made me want to go so much. When he met Scott and Zelda I got a little confused not knowing who they are, I had to look them up to figure out. As the movie progressed I saw Gil pulled away from his fiancé as he went. I would never believe my friend if he said he met famous people. I get why they call it Midnight in Paris because when its midnight he meets more people that have been dead. I would be way more excited to see all these people because I feel Gil grew used to seeing all the people. All the people who thought Picasso’s painting was bad but today everyone would love to have it. I also really like the classical music they added or when Gil was at the party with the carousels or what looked like a market that the woman was playing a classical piece. I don’t think his fiancé and her parents are an important part of the movie. Gil was important aswell as the people he met more than once in a different era.Overall I think it was a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone.
Drew, what did this movie teach you that you think will make your trip better?
I agree with everyone’s comments with Midnight In Paris. Gil showed me to take little things the biggest way of intrest the way he explored Paris and the artist of Picasso and the amazing painting, I think this movie made me realize to make this trip a challenge for me like putting my self out there more to the people and take an intrest in everything I see and learn after seeing Gil and his Fianće break up because of the love of Paris made me sob because I think Gil could of found more love to Paris like she did. This movie was great and I cant wait to watch more movies about this amazing trip
Taylor, what three things did you learn from this movie that will make your trip better?
Midnight in Paris was a visually appetizing, cheeky, romantic movie that focused not on two people finding love together, but rather a man finding love for a city. I enjoyed nearly every aspect of it, from a movie and personal standpoint. Following the story of a man named Gill (who hopes to find direction for his book and his life in Paris), Midnight in Paris shows us just how magical this city really is. It takes us back to the Golden Age in Paris, where the warm, yellow lighting provides an aroma of comfort to anyone in its glow. We see creative geniuses living their lives as they would have, almost as if the stories of their adventures leapt from their biographies and danced to the music of Cole Porter. This movie was rich in music, wonders, and beauty, something I think Paris is all about. Its comedy and playful dialogue made me smile and wonder if Hemmingway was truly infatuated with courage and boldness, and if Dali truly had a thing for rhinos. Another reason I liked this movie was its ability to show how beautiful Paris has been throughout all the centuries. Midnight in Paris also taught me how though the party may seem boring (quote to Zelda Fitzgerald), and the present may seem dull, the past has the same worries that the present does, so make what you have exciting, colorful, and beautiful. Never forget to live in the moment and admire its charm.
The only thing I have that I did not enjoy about this movie was its ending. I say this not because I didn’t like the way things panned out for Gill, but rather I hoped for more. I wished for another night in the 1920’s Paris streets. I wanted to see Gill return with a finished copy of his improved book, showing it to Gertrude and maybe coaxing Hemmingway into taking a peak. I wished to see Gill mingle with Fitzgerald, listen to Porter’s music, seeing the painting Dali drew of him crying a rhino, and mostly just enjoying himself in that world once again. Sadly I saw no more, so I will have to leave my imaginations of Gill publishing his “Stein Approved” book only to my dreams. However, despite the ending leaving me wanting more, I felt filled with facts that make me think of Paris in a different light, something that may help me enjoy my trip even more. One thing I learned was how rich the history of Paris is when it comes to writers and artists. I had no idea that writers and artists of the Golden Age found a home in Paris, staying in places like Shakespeare and Company or with Gertrude Stein. Knowing that so many creative minds walked the streets I will walk in will make my time in Paris so much more worth it. Another thing I learned (whether it be real or not) is how Paris has this effect on people, making them feel inspired. Gill said many times that he didn’t know what it was or how, but being in Paris made him feel alive, like he belonged there. I hope that when I go to the “City of Love”, I too will see how it can make me feel inspired. Finally, I learned how Paris is so unique and alluring that it is like no place else in the world. Gill was quoted saying, “Every street, every boulevard is its own special art form,” and going on this trip, I’m immensely excited to see how those streets really are a piece of art.
Alright, Derek, if you had just one day, alone, in Paris, what do you do?
Hmmm… Well that depends on what you mean by alone. If you mean that I travel to Paris by myself, then I would try my best to blend in. Whether I’m talking about going by myself or with Minooka Tap, I’d hate to come off as a noisy, annoying American, so I’d want to be as casual as I could possibly be. Walking around, acting as if I know the streets, filming and taking pictures of whatever I could, anything to explore as much as I could in a single day. However, if you mean I am completely alone in the entire city of Paris, then oh boy, that’s a completely different story. No holds back, complete joy infused frolicking around the entire city. I would run more than I have in my entire life. Any Do Not Enter signs to closed off emporiums would be null and void to me. I would climb to a point where I could overlook the entire city, I would get lost in the amazing, yet disturbing, catacombs. And I would only take one picture, because when I would look at it, I would think of an entire 24 hours of venturing those streets, with no one around.
Honestly I read the title and “Midnight in Paris” didn’t sound appealing nor intriguing in anyway. The title almost immediately brought a thought into my head of a cliché love story in, of course, “The City of Love. Fortunately my instant thought was put down after watching this movie, although there was a love genre in there, it was the most opposite of cliché you can come to find! I absolutely adored the story line of an aspiring male novelist idolizing the past; the golden ages, the 1920’s of Paris, while his fiancée is too concerned with her scrupulous, knowledge friends, and how yet both seem to be so bright they are both caught up in an unrealistic reality to see their relationship isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I did find a liking to how this movie, that is unrealistic to happen in reality, did bring in historical features of idolized people; Hemmingway, Picasso etc. Speaking of Hemmingway it seems one theme was fear of death, as did Hemmingway say “You’ll never be a great writer if you fear dying. Do you?” “Yeah, I do. I would say it’s my greatest fear,” Gil replied. But I do have to disagree with people there, and say I think Gil’s fear is failure and perhaps failure before his death, leading him to not take chances on his writing career. One last quick thought I did find that ironically with Gil’s fear supposedly being death that he is in fact idolizing and daydreaming dead writers and artist, and finding comfort of the perspective that they, in the past, knew more or less of what they were doing. Last but not least the thing that topped off this movie for me was the acting; Corey Stoll playing Ernest did very well on bringing the character to a lively perspective, while making him fun all at once.