Woody Allen on time travel

Woody Allen has revealed all eras are “horrible” in his opinion.

The celebrated director – whose new movie “Midnight in Paris” will be on at Vienna’s Burgkino this weekend (19 to 21 August) – told the Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper today (Weds): “I have to admit I consider all epochs as horrible. We live in a terrible era, but it must have also been bad in World War Two. The Cold War was awful as well. All epochs are disastrous and the present is so too.”

The main character of his new film travels back in time into the 1920s. Asked whether he would like to do so too, Allen said: “The 1920s must have been a glamorous period – but they were a difficult time as well. Nevertheless, it would be great to travel back in time for lunch and be home for dinner in the present.”

The award-winning filmmaker explained “Midnight in Paris” – which features Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard in leading roles – has an autobiographical touch. “I went to Paris for the first time in 1964 (…) and fell in love with the city instantly. (…) I had serious thoughts about settling there. Now I am thinking to myself that this would have been a good idea.”

Allen added: “I was so impressed of the city. (…) As most Americans, I only knew it from romantic movies in which people kiss each other and drink. It was pretty good in reality when I went there. I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. Paris managed to match my high expectations.”

“Midnight in Paris” is Allen’s most successful film at the box office in the world to date. Its shooting caused a media hype some months ago when it emerged that singer and model Carla Bruni – who is married to French President Nicolas Sarkozy – has a cameo in it.

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Go to www.burgkino.at or call +43 1 587 84 06 for information about starting times of films screened at the Burgkino, a popular original version cinema located at Opernring 19 in the city centre of Vienna.