place

The Magic of Place: Midnight in Paris Version

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My obsession with the film Midnight in Paris runs deep. So deep that during our holiday I took it upon myself to hunt down and visit some of my favorite locations from the film.

I am so happy I did this. I ended up discovering and exploring so many new places that really expanded my love for Paris. Which ultimately got me thinking about how important place is when telling a story.

The Perfect Place to Tell a Story

I can’t imagine Midnight in Paris being filmed in any other city than Paris. Clearly. But the locations that Woody Allen picked added to the story in such unique ways that they gave an extra layer of experience to the viewer.

In one hour and thirty-four minutes Allen took us through modern day Paris, into the American ex-pat haven of the nineteen-twenties, the elegance and optimism of La Belle Époque and an ever so briefly moment into pre-revolution France.

The place you tell a story is more than just a location to shoot in. The perfect place will add another level of interest and authenticity to your story. Place helps up the level of understanding for your character. And as in Midnight in Paris‘ place is more than a location. It is the time frame and the pieces and props placed within a frame that helps you show the story, and not just tell it.

Hunting down the perfect place can be super stressful, lest we forget New Orleans, but the adventure is worth it!

People often ask me if making movies takes some of the magic out of it. Not for me. It makes them more magical. I love being transported by story, and Midnight in Paris did that for me on so many levels. But finding myself in Paris, walking these streets and seeing with my own eyes the perfect place to tell a story was beyond magical.

Understanding a story’s place doesn’t always get a lot of attention in film making. But it is an important detail. And not just for making a shot look pretty, but as a partner in telling a moving and meaningful story.

My Midnight in Paris Journey

I explored over twenty “Midnight” film locations during our holiday.

Here are a few of my favorites:

On the steps of Saint–Étienne–du–Mont where Gil was picked up for his first journey into the 1920’s. Address: Place Sainte-Geneviève, 75005 Paris, France
The Polidor is where Gil first meets Hemingway. In the movie, in the future, it has been replaced by a laundromat – but it still stands and looks pretty much the same as it did when Hemingway and his contemporaries hung out there. Address:
41 Rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 Paris, France
Night time walk over Pont Alexandre III, one of the most ornamental bridges in Paris, with my daughter. Address: Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France
I love that this place is actually a detective agency 🙂 Gil’s future father-in-law hires them to check in on Gil. Address: 18 Rue du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France
Hall of Mirrors at Palace of Versailles was a treat to finally see in person. In the film the detective following Gil finds himself running through these halls in pre-revolutionary France. Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Musée des Arts Forains was one of my favorite discoveries. In the film, Gil and Adriana attend a party here thrown by the Fitzgerald’s. It’s usually open by appointment only, but we were there during the 12 days of Christmas and they were hosting their annual Festival du Merveilleux. And we were able to experience a full festival with performers and games and plenty of photo ops. Address: 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris, France

Location Scouting

Midnight in Paris was released in 2011 and there are plenty of maps and websites to help you find the film locations. Here are a couple of sites I kept going back to when I was trying to track a place down.

The Woody Allen Pages [link]

Almost Ginger [link]

Paris Perfect [link]

Blueskies,
Tami Lynn

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