While on vacation in Paris with his fiancée and her wealthy parents, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously traveling back to the 1920s every day at midnight. A film by Woody Allen, starring Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson, Nina Arianda, Kurt Fuller, Tom Hiddleston, Mimi Kennedy, Alison Pill, Léa Seydoux, and Corey Stoll.

Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a seasoned Hollywood screenwriter, dreams of becoming a novelist. However, he’s struggling to finish his debut novel, which is about a man who works in a nostalgia shop. While on vacation in Paris with his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her wealthy parents, John (Kurt Fuller) and Helen (Mimi Kennedy), Gil becomes captivated by the city’s rich history and charm. He tries to convince Inez to move there after they’re married. However, Inez dismisses his idea, asserting that she could never live outside the United States.

At the restaurant, Inez is surprised to see her friend Paul Bates (Michael Sheen) and his wife Carol (Nina Arianda). Carol explains that they didn’t plan to come to Paris; Paul was invited to give a lecture at the Sorbonne. Gil doesn’t seem to like Paul, feeling that he often shows off his knowledge like a Mr. Know-It-All. He also notices that Inez admires Paul’s charisma and intellect.

Sorbonne is a historic building in Paris that has housed various universities and research institutions since the 13th century, most notably the University of Paris. Today, the Sorbonne building is home to several universities including Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris 4 Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 5 Paris Descartes, and Sorbonne University.

However, Paul’s knowledge isn’t always accurate; for instance, he tries to argue with the guide (Carla Bruni) at the Musée Rodin about who was the actual Rodin’s wife.

Carla Bruni is an Italian-French singer, songwriter, and former fashion model. She became the First Lady of France after marrying President Nicolas Sarkozy on 2 February 2008. Bruni transitioned from modeling to music, releasing several successful albums, with her debut “Quelqu’un m’a dit” in 2003. She is also known for her philanthropic efforts, including founding the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation in 2009 to promote access to culture and knowledge.

At the museum, Inez tells Carol that her father invited her and Paul to a wine tasting. Gil is surprised when Carol brags that Paul is an expert on French wine.

Auguste Rodin (1840—1917) was a renowned French sculptor, often regarded as the founder of modern sculpture. He was known for his innovative approach, which departed from traditional themes of mythology and allegory, focusing instead on naturalism and the human form. Rodin’s notable works include “The Thinker”, “The Kiss”, “The Burghers of Calais”, and “The Gates of Hell”.

After the wine tasting, Paul invites Gil and Inez to join them for a night of dancing. Feeling a bit tipsy, Gil excuses himself, saying he’d rather take a walk back to the hotel. Inez decides to leave with Paul and Carol. While they’re in the taxi, Paul offers to read Gil’s novel and give him some feedback. Inez then reveals that when it comes to writing, Gil has no respect for anyone else’s opinion.

Meanwhile, Gil becomes lost, unable to find his way back to the Le Bristol hotel. As he sits down on the steps waiting for a taxi, the clock chimes midnight, and a 1920 Peugeot pulls up. The passengers call Gil over and invite him to get in the car. Confused, Gil believes they must be mistaking him for someone else. Nevertheless, he hops into the car and soon finds himself at a party for Jean Cocteau, with Cole Porter (Yves Heck) playing the piano and singing “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love).”

Jean Cocteau (1889—1963) was a prominent French artist known for his multifaceted contributions to literature, film, theater, and visual arts. Born in Maisons-Laffitte, France, he emerged as a key figure in the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century, particularly Dada and Surrealism. Cole Porter (1891—1964) was an American composer and songwriter known for his witty, urbane lyrics and sophisticated musical style.

There, Gil also meets Zelda (Alison Pill) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston). At first, he’s utterly bewildered, but then Gil realizes that he has somehow been transported back to Paris in the 1920s.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896—1940) was an American novelist and short-story writer, renowned for his depiction of the Jazz Age. His most famous work is “The Great Gatsby” (1925), which is considered a classic of American literature. Zelda Fitzgerald (1900—1948) was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife and muse. Known for her beauty and vibrant personality, she was a prominent figure in the 1920s social scene. She was also an aspiring writer and artist, publishing a novel, “Save Me the Waltz”, in 1932.

Zelda, ever the free spirit, soon grows bored and suggests they all head to Bricktop’s.

Bricktop’s was a famous nightclub in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s, owned and operated by Ada “Bricktop” Smith. It was a popular hangout for American expatriate community of artists, writers, and socialites known as the “Lost Generation” in Paris.

After Bricktop’s, the Fitzgeralds take Gil to Polidor, where they meet Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), one of Gil’s favorite writers. Gil sits down, and Hemingway asks him what he’s writing.

Ernest Hemingway (1899—1961) was a celebrated American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Known for his economical and understated writing style, he significantly influenced 20th-century fiction. Hemingway’s notable works include “The Sun Also Rises”, “A Farewell to Arms”, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, and “The Old Man and the Sea”, the latter earning him the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.

Gil tells Hemingway it’s about a man who works in a nostalgia shop and asks if Hemingway would like to read his novel and give him his opinion. Hemingway refuses to read it, telling Gil that he hates it. He further explains that if Gil’s novel is bad, he will hate it, and if it’s good, he’ll be envious and hate it anyway. However, Hemingway offers to take Gil’s novel to Gertrude Stein, the only person he trusts with his writing.

Gertrude Stein (1874—1946) was an American writer, poet, and art collector who became a central figure in the avant-garde movement in Paris. She was known for her innovative literary style and for hosting a salon at her Paris home, which became a gathering place for leading modernist artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Stein had a significant relationship with Ernest Hemingway, whom she mentored and befriended. She introduced him to the Parisian literary scene and famously coined the term “Lost Generation” to describe Hemingway and his contemporaries, reflecting their disillusionment after World War.

Extremely excited, Gil rushes off to bring his manuscript from the hotel back to Hemingway. But when he returns to Polidor, the restaurant mysteriously disappears, replaced by a laundromat.

Polidor, officially known as Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor, is a historic restaurant located at 41 Rue Monsieur-le-Prince in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Established in 1845, it has been a popular gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, especially during the vibrant cultural scene of the 1920s.

The next night, Gil carries his manuscript and convinces Inez to accompany him, promising to show her a surprise that will explain why he’s been acting strangely all day. Gil brings Inez to the steps where he got into a mysterious car the previous night, but they arrive too early.

Moments later, Inez becomes tired and bored as nothing happens, so she decides to call a taxi and return to the hotel by herself, leaving Gil behind. Confused, Gil starts to question whether he had a hallucination and imagined the whole thing. Suddenly, the bell strikes at midnight, and the mysterious car appears and pulls up where Gil is standing. He hops into the car and finds Hemingway inside. The driver takes them to Gertrude Stein’s residence.

Hemingway introduces Gil to Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), who is pleased to see them because she needs their opinions on a new portrait of Adriana by Picasso.

She finds the painting dripping with sexual innuendo. Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo), however, defends himself, insisting that Stein doesn’t truly understand his artistry and that she doesn’t know Adriana as well as he does.

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theatre designer, widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement, which revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and for his diverse range of styles and techniques. Picasso first visited Paris in 1900 and became a permanent resident in 1904. His time in Paris was marked by significant artistic development, including his Blue Period (1901–1904), characterized by somber tones and themes of poverty and despair, and his Rose Period (1904–1906), which featured lighter colors and more cheerful subjects.

Hemingway and Gil are instantly attracted to Adriana (Marion Cotillard). While Stein reads the opening lines from Gil’s manuscript, Adriana expresses her admiration, saying she’s already hooked. She later confesses to Gil that she has always been fond of the past and that it would have been perfect if she had lived in La Belle Époque.

La Belle Époque (The Beautiful Era) refers to a period in French and European history that lasted from the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. This era is characterized by significant cultural, artistic, and technological advancements, particularly in Paris, which became a center of innovation and creativity.

Adriana also tells Gil that she was born in Bordeaux and moved to Paris to study fashion with Coco Chanel. Gil is surprised to learn that before Pablo, Adriana had relationships with artists like Amedeo Modigliani and Georges Braque.

Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor known for his unique style characterized by elongated forms and a focus on the human figure, particularly in portraits and nudes. Georges Braque (1882-1963) was a major French painter who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the revolutionary Cubist style in the early 20th century.

While Inez and her mother Helen browse for antique furniture at the famous Parisian flea market, le marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, Gil’s ear catches a familiar voice – Cole Porter crooning “You Do Something to Me.” Curious, he follows the sound to a small shop owned by Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux), where a vintage phonograph is playing Cole Porter’s vinyl. Gil later returns to the shop to buy the record from Gabrielle. In another stall, Gil stumbles upon Adriana’s journal, written in French. He then brings it to the museum guide to translate a few pages for him. The journal entries reveal that Adriana was in love with an American writer named Gil Pender.

Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is the largest antiques and second-hand market in the world, located just north of Paris in the suburb of Saint-Ouen. It is renowned for its vast array of goods, including vintage furniture, art, clothing, and collectibles, spread across 11 distinct markets and over 1,700 merchants. The market has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century, evolving from a gathering of rag-and-bone men into a bustling hub for antique dealers and collectors. It became more formalized in the 1920s with the establishment of specific markets like Vernaison, Malik, and Biron, each offering unique items and styles, from 17th-century furniture to Art Deco pieces.

Gil and Inez meet Paul and Carol at the Musée de l’Orangerie for a private viewing of Claude Monet’s les Nymphéas. Paul, who happens to be an expert on Monet, shares his insights with the group.

Les Nymphéas (The Water Lilies) is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings created by the French Impressionist artist Claude Monet during the last 30 years of his life. These paintings depict his flower garden and the water lily pond at his home in Giverny, France. A selection of eight large panels from the Nymphéas series is permanently displayed at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. These paintings were donated to the French state by Monet in 1918 as a symbol of peace. The museum built two oval rooms specifically designed to showcase these works, creating an immersive experience for visitors. The eight panels are of the same height (2 meters) but vary in length (from 5.99 to 17 meters), wrapping around the curved walls of the rooms. Together, they cover an area of about 200 square meters, making this one of the most monumental achievements in 20th-century painting. Monet intended for the compositions to be hung in a circular manner, as if a day or the four seasons were unfolding before the viewer’s eyes.

Later, they come across a Picasso portrait that Paul believes depicts his French mistress, Madeleine Brissou. Gil immediately recognizes it as the same portrait that sparked a heated argument between Gertrude Stein and Picasso. Seizing the moment, he tries to embarrass Paul by correcting him with the facts and quoting Stein.

Despite being told by his daughter Inez how inspired Gil has been by the city’s lights during his nightly walks, John grows suspicious of Gil’s constant disappearances and hires a private detective to follow him. Meanwhile, Gil travels back in time and encounters Salvador Dalí (Adrien Brody), who introduces him to Luis Buñuel (Adrien de Van) and Man Ray (Tom Cordier). Gil shares his perplexing situation: he’s engaged to Inez, but he feels a strong attraction to Adriana.

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) was a renowned Spanish surrealist artist known for his technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and striking, bizarre images. Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) was a Spanish filmmaker renowned as a leading figure in Surrealism. Man Ray (1890-1976) was an American visual artist, best known as a pioneer of avant-garde photography and a renowned fashion and portrait photographer.

Written and directed by American filmmaker Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy masterpiece featuring a stellar cast and breathtakingly beautiful cinematography, with fantastical and science fiction elements interwoven into an intricate plot.

The screenplay is brilliantly crafted; I’m amazed at how Allen could pull off including so many historical figures in one film while making it feel genuinely comical and convincingly believable, all with wonderful and memorable dialogue. Every scene is filled with wonder and excitement, as I can’t wait to see which famous figure will appear next. Midnight in Paris is arguably one of the best romantic comedy films of all time.

Midnight in Paris premiered at Festival de Cannes on 11 May 2011. It was theatrically released in the United States on 20 May. The film grossed over $151 million worldwide against the production budget of $17 million.

Paris is more beautiful in the rain.

Midnight in Paris received four nominations at the 84th Academy Awards in 2012: Best Picture, Best Director (Woody Allen), Best Original Screenplay (Woody Allen), and Best Art Direction (Anne Seibel & Hélène Dubreuil). The film won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, marking Woody Allen’s fourth win in this category and his first since 1987.