Friday, February 18, 2011

Midnight in Paris


A scene from “Midnight in Paris” (or afternoon in Monet’s garden in Giverny…)

The new film by Woody Allen “Midnight in Paris” will open the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in May. The romantic comedy is described by the director of the Festival as “a wonderful love letter to Paris,”  adding: “It’s a film in which Woody Allen takes a deeper look at the issues raised in his last films: our relationship with history, art, pleasure and life.”  The movie follows a family travelling to the city for business, and a freshly engaged couple that has their lives transformed.
The cast includes Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody and for a cameo role also the Italian artist Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France very own first lady, apparently receiving  a bit more attention than the others.
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Woody Allen, Owen Wilson and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy


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Woody Allen and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

But let’s talk about Interiors, as part of the film was shot in a gorgeous Parisian apartment in a building Napoleon III style (Second Empire)  and of course with a monumental  front door and soaring ceilings.
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Owen Wilson and a typical Parisian wrought iron railing.

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This image of the apartment is not part of the movie, but was shot for an exhibition of contemporary pieces of furniture, as the Chesterfield sofa by Poltrona Frau  and the chair Grande Papilio by Naoto Fukasawa for B&B Italia. Exquisite original wood floor and walls and ceilings decorations. The dark grey creates a very elegant background for antiques or for contemporary pieces, the large and tall windows allow the light to play with the different shades of grey.
I can see drapes not perfectly hung and a throw on the sofa casually draped around cushions, I have no idea about this choice but perhaps the photograher wanted to create a lived-in atmosphere in such an austere apartment of the past.

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On the antique card table the modern lamp Abat-Jour, designed by Ettore Sottsass  for B&B Italia. Again the cord of the lamp could have been shortened but I like it as it is, since it gives the impression that someone is living in the place, instead of a perfectly staged image for a magazine.

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Black marble for the fireplace is a background for the contemporary silver candlestick by Ora-ïto for Christofle. On the right a vintage armchair covered in moiré velvet.

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In this room we see a dark purple-red upholstery for the chair Moël by Inga Sempé for Ligne Roset near a vintage table surrounded by industrial look chairs. A B&W portrait is casually standing on the antique fireplace mantel, behind a teapot that looks like an Alessi one.

Until I will see the movie “Midnight in Paris” I will keep wondering about the interior decoration Woody Allen’s team has created for the story which spans a few decades of the last century.

Top image by Roger Arpajou © 2011
Interiors photography by Didier Delmas

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20 comments:

mosaicology said...

Thank you for sharing! I cannot wait to see it, especially curious about Carla's acting, she has great style and beautiful voice. I am sure it would be another Woody Allen masterpiece, different than the one in Barcelona, passionate, intense because now the scene is more romantic..let's see. a presto!
ps> I am happy you are enjoying by blog too.

quintessence said...

So excited!! Didn't even know about this until now. Interiors sure to be fabulous!!

Theresa Cheek said...

The first interior image is what I think Paris is. I love the ceiling and the entire palette of the room. I can't wait for this movie!

Anonymous said...

...there's something about french design that's just so beautiful...and I really like the juxtaposition of the modern pieces in the french rooms....
maureen

peggy braswell said...

OK, now I can't wait to see this movie+ great post. thanks xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

Unknown said...

It looks like a great movie. I can't wait to see it!

Unknown said...

Looks like a great movie. I can't wait to see it.

Renée Finberg said...

i want to see it.
i have seen many of his movies that are show stoppers regarding the set design.
this will be another i am sure.

cotedetexas said...

thanks for your comment today! can't help but respond to anons!!!

omg - this movie looks so great. i love the ones he films in europe. doesn't woody look adorable in that hat! can't wait to see this - that apartment looks unreal. can you imagine if michelle obama starred in a movie?

A CRITIC'S EYE said...

A feast for the eyes it seems. Look forward to it.

Linda Merrill said...

Thanks for the heads up on this movie! I don't love Woody Allen, Owen Wilson or Carla Bruni, but for the architecture, interiors and the city itself, I can overlook!

Maria Killam said...

I love anything to do with Paris! This sounds like a good one! x Maria

Francine Gardner said...

This promises to be a fun beautiful movie. I have not particularly liked his latest movies, but will certainly see this one. Carla Bruni!! That will be probably be good PR and Sarkozy certainly needs it right now

kathi said...

Really looking forward to a film by WA starting Owen Wilson.........
Kathi

Claudia Juestel said...

Can't wait to see the movie. Thanks for the intro Albarosa.

I wish that there were more still images of movie sets. I was hunting for some recently and had a heck of a time. I wonder why set designers and set decorators don't promote their talent more.

Cheers,

Claudia

Jane Kilpatrick Schott said...

Take a look at "Interiors" when you get a chance. I am looking forward to this...at least you can count on Woody to do a "smart" film.

Hickory Furniture Mart said...

That great splash of color from the Inga Sempé for Ligne Roset is really set off by the neutral tones of the room. Great accent piece, though I do have to say it seems a little out of place. http://bit.ly/e72V5k

Joyce@canadianoriginals.net said...

Great post. I've watched so many Owen Wilson movies over the years with my teenagers. It'll be interesting to see him in a more sophisticated film. Of course it's always wonderful to see Paris.

La Petite Gallery said...

I think furniture should look like it belongs in a room. That is a beautiful building, then there are many in Paris. I wish him luck on this new movie, he's been out of pocket for a while.

yvonne

MingS said...

Loved your comment about the lamp power cable. There's a lovely book with the homes of Yves St Laurent, and in one pic of his Paris bedroom - with so many paintings they've had to hang one off a nail on the back of the door - there's a power strip [power board] with lots of sockets, plugs and cables all in a tangle...

 
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