Midnight in Paris (2011) dir. Woody Allen
As the capital of France, Paris is indeed renowned for its rich history and architecture. With numerous significant and historical buildings spanning different periods, the architecture in the city of Paris is incredibly unique and distinctive. One dominant architectural style seen in Paris is the Renaissance, which notably employs brick and stone as a primary material, often in shades of white and pale yellow. Not only in its buildings but these materials and colors are also prominent in other city elements like bridges and monuments.
In the movie 'Midnight in Paris,' the use of pale yellow material and color on the buildings aims to depict a specific atmosphere, further emphasized by making it the foundational color throughout the film with a touch of green. This was essential in conveying the warm and comforting impression experienced by Gil, the film's main character, who is a writer. 'You look around, every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form' is one of the quotes said by Gil as he describes the city of Paris, which he finds extraordinarily beautiful.
From Midnight in Paris, we can also observe the distinctive feature of buildings in Paris that exhibit uniformity, both in style and size. There are numerous details on the buildings and streets that capture attention. Moreover, functions that should typically be public, such as pubs and coffee shops, are located in small alleys, creating a sense of privacy and intimacy. From this film, we can see that Paris preserves its 'vintage' atmosphere and unique traits, unlike attempts to modernize the city as seen in other places.
In this movie, Gil is portrayed as a romantic individual, deeply thoughtful, and imaginative. Therefore, Paris was chosen as the backdrop for this film because it possesses specific uniqueness and characteristics that stimulate imagination and provide inspiration for a writer like Gil.
