Midnight in Vancouver

　　
　
Midnight in Vancouver
　
　

Midnight in Paris





Gil and Inez



Diane, did you enjoy the film "Midnight in Paris"?



Oh, yes, definitely. 　It was marvellous and quite fascinating.

What made you so fascinated?

Well..., it's like a time-machine story. The protagonist is a male writer called Gil, who is writing his first novel. 　His fiancée is called Inez.

Is she pretty and charming?

Well..., whether she is beautiful or not doesn't matter, Kato. 　Anyway, both of them are in Paris. 　One night, after a wine tasting and being a little drunk, Gil walks back to his hotel through the streets of Paris, but eventually he gets lost. 　As he stops at a set of stairs, nearby bells chime midnight.

...sounds like a male Cinderella story, doesn't it?

Something like that, but not quite. 　Only midnight chime is in common.

Then what happens?

Suddenly, an antique car pulls up, and to his surprise, the passengers turn out a group of champagne-drinking party-goers dressed in 1920s clothing. 　They all urege Gil to join them.

Does he step into the car?

Oh, yes, of course, he does because Gil admires and idolizes the 1920s in his novel.

So, Gil has been transported to the 1920s, hasn't he?





Yes, he has. 　Gil encounters Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and they take Gil to meet Ernest Hemingway, who agrees to show Gil's novel to Gertrude Stein, and Gil goes to fetch his manuscript from his hotel. 　However, as soon as he leaves the bar, he finds he has returned to 2010.



Oh, that's too bad for Gil.

But not really so because the same situation happens again the following midnight when Gil attempts to bring his fiancée, Inez, to the past, but she greets his excitement with annoyance and boredom, and peevishly returns to the hotel. Just after she leaves, the clock strikes midnight and the car pulls up again, this time with Hemingway inside it. He takes Gil to meet Gertrude Stein, who agrees to read his novel and introduces him to Pablo Picasso and his's mistress Adriana, a strikingly beautiful student of couture to whom Gil is instantly attracted.

Wow!...sounds quite interesting and fascinating.

So, that's the reason I really want you to see the film, Kato.

Oh, yes, I'd love to see it.

Midnight in Paris

Trailer 2011

---

SOURCE: "Diane in Montmartre"
(August 13, 2011)

Kato, you're talking about "Midnight in Vancouver," aren't you? 　How come you've just brought up "Midnight in Paris"?



'Cause, when I boarded JAL017 for Narita on September 27, I happened to notice the movie title---"Midnight in Paris" on the Menu of the Japan Airline Inflight Entertainment Network. 　You see, we talked about it back in August. 　But, I didn't have enough time to look for the DVD and view it.

So, you viewed "Midnight in Paris" on the flight for Japan, didn't you?

Yes, I did. 　It was quite interesting, and I really enjoyed it.

That's great. 　What impressed you most, Kato?

Well..., Diane, you talked about the first half about the movie, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

The last half interested me greatly.

What about it?

Well..., Gil meets Picasso's mistress, Adriana, in the past and comes to like her very much. Later in reality, Gil and Inez go to the flea market on the outskirts of Paris. While Inez shops for furniture, Gil meets Gabrielle, a charming antiques dealer who shares his fondness for the twenties. Gil later discovers Adriana's diary from the 1920s in a used book stall on the Seine and, with the aid of a friendly tour guide at the Musée Rodin to translate it, finds out that she was in love with him. Reading that she dreamt of receiving a gift of earrings from him and then making love to him, Gil attempts to steal a pair of earrings from Inez to give to Adriana but is thwarted by Inez's early return from a trip.



Adriana and Gil



So, Gil cannot give Adriana the earrings, can't he?



No, he can't, but later Gil purchases earrings for Adriana and, returning to the past, confesses his love for her. As they kiss on a deserted street, a horse and carriage appears. They are invited inside by a richly-dressed couple and are transported back to the Belle Époque, an era Adriana considers Paris's Golden Age. They are taken to the famous Maxim's Paris restaurant, and meet Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin and Edgar Degas. When Gil asks what they thought the best era was, the three determine that the greatest era was the Renaissance.

Yes, yes, yes,...that's right. I remember the scene.

The enthralled Adriana is offered a job designing ballet costumes, and proposes to Gil that they stay, but Gil realizes that despite the allure of nostalgia, it is better to accept the present for what it is. Adriana elects to stay in the past, and they sadly part ways.

Yes,...that's the sad moment, isn't it?

Yes, it is. 　Later, Gil retrieves his novel from Gertrude Stein, who praises his progress as a writer but questions why the main character has not realized that his fiancée (based on Inez) is having an affair with a pedantic character. Gil returns to the present and confronts Inez. She admits to sleeping with the pedantic man but claims that it can be forgotten when they return to California. Gil breaks up with Inez and decides to remain in Paris. Taking a walk at midnight, he unexpectedly meets Gabrielle, and offers to walk her home.



Gabrielle and Gil



So, Kato, the breakup scene impressed you the most of all, didn't it?



No, not the breakup scene, but the beginning of the new love between Gil and Gabrielle who, like Gil, is fond of the twenties. You see, Gil thought that he had found the better half, but he learned that his fiancée, Inez, had been having an affair with another man in Paris. The last scene suggests that Gil has found his real better half.



Gabrielle



I see... So, Kato, you think, Gabrielle is going to be his new better half. Is that it?



Yes, I do. 　While I was enjoying my stay in Japan, I received your mail.

Which mail?

The following mail you sent on October 21.

Subj:I miss you!

From: diane03760@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Fri, Oct 21, 2011 8:42 am

Thanks, Kato
... hope you're really enjoying your stay in Japan.
I haven't seen many of the old regulars here lately; they're probably all out enjoying this lovely fall weather.

At any rate, you'll be back the end of the next week so hopefully I'll see you then.
I won't actually be going to Joe Fortes Library very much any more.



I met this lovely man a few months ago; he's intelligent, kind, witty and thoughtful.

He's widowed & retired like myself and lonely just like I was.
He just bought half of a beautiful house in Kitsilano.
It's a lovely neighbourhood and close to the beach and all and he's been trying to talk me into coming to live with him, inasmuch as we have a great time together and have mutual values & interests and chemistry as well.



I've been considering it carefully and now feel it would be a great move for both of us.
He suggested I could keep my place and see how it goes for a while, which I think is a good idea really.

So I consented on Tuesday and I'm moving tomorrow... at least my clothes and books and violin and food and such; it's ALL so exciting!



What an adventure!
I will, however, be in the westend every Thursday as it's my yoga day/volunteer day/piano lesson day and such and then I could water my plants and do any chores and girl-stuff and sleep over and go to my regular gym on Friday morning to see my friends.

All of this to say I hope to see you on Thursdays if you're here then.
Who knows how life will change, true?
Next thing we know, you'll be moving in with a lovely flamenco dancer!



Wouldn't that be fun, now?

Thanks for an article on Madame Taliesin.
I don't recall ever hearing about him but guess I should have being of Welsh descent and all.

Have fun, kiddo,
See you soon, hopefully,

Love, Diane ~

---

SOURCE: "Happy Days"
(October 22, 2011)

Kato, are you implying that my man is having an affair with another woman?



Oh no, I'm certainly not. 　Don't misunderstand me. 　I'm just telling you that nobody is perfect.

So, you're telling me that my right man might not be my better half, aren't you?

No, no, no..., Diane...don't jump to that conclusion.

What are you getting at then?

Well..., listen to me, Diane, you're one of my best lady friends, and I admire you and trust your judgement. 　However, there are ups and downs in anybody's life. 　Steve Jobs said, "Stay hundry, stay foolish!" 　But I'd say, "Stay open-minded, stay smart!"

...sounds good to me. But you have not yet talked about "Midnight in Vancouver," have you?

No, not yet.

Tell me about it.

Whatever happens to you, Diane, I think you should be able to mend your relationship.



What makes you think so?





'Cause you wore a fairy costume on the midnight of Halloween in Vancouver. 　You have a certain magic power. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ...

【Himiko's Monologue】



Wow! Diane's Halloween night costume!
How lovely it is!
Did you enjoy your Halloween party?
I wish I could see the Halloween night like this.



What a fascinating illumination!
Halloween is one thing; romance is another.

Come to think of it, I've never met a decent man in my life.
How come I'm always a loner?
I wish I could meet a nice gentleman at the library in my town as Diane met Kato.
Well, they say, there is a way where there is a will.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...

If you've got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:


■"Cleopatra"

■"Queen Nefertiti"

■"Catherine de Medici"

■"Catherine the Great"

■"Mata Hari"

■"Sidonie Colette"



■"Marilyn Monroe"

■"Hello Diane!"

■"I wish you were there!"

■"Jane Eyre"



■"Jane Eyre Again"

■"Jane Eyre in Vancouver"

■"Jane Eyre Special"

■"Love & Death of Cleopatra"

■"Nice Story"



■"Scrumdiddlyumptious"

■"Spiritual Work or What?"

■"What a coincidence!"



■"Wind and Water"

■"Yoga and Happiness"

■"You're in a good shape"



■"Hellelujah!"

■"Ecclesiophobia"

■"Uncorruptible"

■"Net Travel & Jane"



■"Net Love"

■"Complicated Love"

■"Electra Complex"

■"Net Début"

■"Inner World"



■"Madame Riviera and Burger"

■"Roly-poly in the North"

■"Amazing Grace"

■"Diane in Paris"

■"Diane in Montmartre"



■"Diane Well Read"

■"Wantirna South"

■"Maiden's Prayer"

■"Bandwidth"

■"Squaw House and Melbourne Hotel"



■"Tulips and Diane"

■"Diane in Bustle Skirt"

■"Diane and Beauty"

■"Lady Chatterley and Beauty"

■"Victoria Prudery"

■"Diane Chatterley"

■"From Canada to Japan"

■"From Gyoda to Vancouver"

■"Film Festival"

■"Madame Taliesin"

■"Happy Days"

■"Vancouver Again"




Hi, I'm June Adames.

Have you ever wondered when Halloween guising started?

As you know, children disguised in costume go from door to door for food or coins.

It is a traditional Halloween custom.

The guising is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped-out turnips, visited homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.

The practice of Guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood.





ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』



とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。