At midnight (1986)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | At midnight |
| Original title | Round Midnight |
| Country of production | USA , France |
| original language | English , French |
| Publishing year | 1986 |
| length | 133 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Bertrand Tavernier |
| script | David Rayfiel , Bertrand Tavernier |
| production | Irwin Winkler |
| music | Herbie Hancock |
| camera | Bruno de Keyzer |
| cut | Armand Psenny |
| occupation | |
| |
Midnight is a French-American feature film from 1986. It is considered one of the best films about and with jazz .
action
Paris in the 1950s . The alcohol-dependent saxophonist Dale Turner ( Dexter Gordon ) had not played due to a nervous breakdown for a long time, when he spoke of New York comes to Paris. In Paris he had already had great success in the bebop scene 15 years earlier . He plays evening after evening in the famous Blue Note jazz club . His concerts are successful. His manager Buttercup tries to keep him away from alcohol so that he is fit for his performances in the evening. She locks him in his room during the day and agrees with the host of the club that this gymnast will not serve alcohol and that she will pay her gymnast's fees.
Francis Borier is a huge Dale Turner fan. He lives alone with his daughter Berangere, who suffers from the separation of their parents and his frequent absence. Evening after evening, because he can't afford to enter, he watches Turner's concerts crouching at the open window of the jazz club. One night Turner comes out of the club looking for a drink and runs into Francis. He asks him to buy him a drink. This is how the friendship of the two begins.
Francis finds Turner's tutelage from Buttercup unbearable. He wants his idol to live in dignity and invites Turner to stay with him. At the same time he tries to dissuade the brilliant musician from alcohol, which he succeeds after several relapses and stays in hospital.
On Berangere's birthday, Turner informs him that he will be returning to the United States. Francis accompanies him to New York to take care of him further. After a while, however, he has to return to France.
Turner dies after relapsing alcohol.
background
Tavernier originally wanted this film to pay homage to the saxophonist Lester Young , but the story is based on the friendship between Bud Powell and the Frenchman Francis Paudras . The film finally gives a coherent picture of the Parisian jazz scene. In contrast to other jazz films like Bird by Clint Eastwood, Tavernier placed more emphasis on the musical than on the cast. In this film, for example, alongside Dexter Gordon, who embodies a character similar to Lester Young, u. a. Wayne Shorter , Tony Williams , Billy Higgins (drums), John McLaughlin , Éric Le Lann , Michel Perez , Freddie Hubbard , Pierre Michelot and Ron Carter . The musician ensemble is led by Herbie Hancock, the composer of the film music, who also appears in the film as a pianist.
Reviews
- Lexicon of international film : The film carefully and lovingly develops the portrait of a musician in a masterful narrative rhythm. Sensations and passion, the beauties of the moment as well as their transience are condensed in artistic details into an expression of quiet sadness and yet constant joy of existence.
- Fischer Film Almanach 1987: Tavernier ... has succeeded in creating an all-round coherent work of art in which each of the actors and musicians is congenially involved. Together with his book and his direction, the arrangements by Herbie Hancock and the architecture and design of Alexandre Trauner are decisive ...
- epd film (11/1986): Dexter Gordon is the sensation of this film, with him music and body language merge seamlessly.
Awards
- Herbie Hancock received an Oscar for best film music. Dexter Gordon was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.
- Golden Globe Award : Nominations for Dexter Gordon for Best Actor and for Herbie Hancock for Best Music.
- César for the best score for Herbie Hancock.
Web links
- At midnight in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- freeze frame
Individual evidence
- ↑ At midnight. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed January 17, 2017 .