Midnight (1998 film)

{{short description|1998 film directed by Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas}} {{Infobox film | name = Midnight | image = O Primeiro Dia.jpg | caption = | director = Walter Salles Daniela Thomas | writer = Walter Salles Daniela Thomas João Emanuel Carneiro José de Carvalho | starring = Fernanda Torres Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos | music = Antônio Pinto Eduardo Bid Naná Vasconcelos | cinematography = Walter Carvalho | editing = Felipe Lacerda Isabelle Rathery | studio = Videofilmes La Sept Arte Haut et Court | distributor = Lumière Riofilme | released = {{film date|1998|||Locarno|1999|10|29|Brazil}} | runtime = 75 minutes | country = Brazil France | language = Portuguese | budget = | gross = R$347,917<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oca.ancine.gov.br/media/SAM/DadosMercado/2102.pdf |title=Filmes Brasileiros Lançados - 1995 a 2012 |publisher=Ancine |accessdate=May 28, 2014 |language=Portuguese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327102342/http://oca.ancine.gov.br/media/SAM/DadosMercado/2102.pdf |archivedate=March 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |page=31 }}</ref> }} '''''Midnight''''' ({{langx|pt|'''O Primeiro Dia'''}}) is a 1998 Brazilian-French drama film directed by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas for the 2000, Seen By... series.

==Plot== As the year 1999 draws to a close, the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro become the backdrop where two lonely souls are destined to meet.<ref name=":0">{{Cite AV media |url=https://mubi.com/en/us/films/midnight |title=Midnight (1998) {{!}} MUBI |language=en |access-date=2025-10-06 |via=mubi.com}}</ref>

On December 31st, destiny intertwines the lives of João (Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos), a fugitive ex-prisoner seeking revenge, and Maria (Fernanda Torres), a disheartened teacher of deaf children abandoned by boyfriend Pedro (Carlos Vereza).<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://letterboxd.com/film/midnight-1998/ |title=Midnight (1998) |language=en |access-date=2025-10-06 |via=letterboxd.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Midnight (1998) {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midnight_1998 |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>

As the new millennium approaches, their encounter, born out of despair, offers an unexpected chance for redemption and hope amid the chaos of the city.<ref name=":1" />

Part of a global cinematic project capturing ten perspectives on the end of the millennium, this story reflects Brazil’s unique vision of renewal and human connection at the dawn of a new era.<ref name=":0" />

==Cast== * Fernanda Torres as Maria * Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos as João * Matheus Nachtergaele as Francisco * Nelson Sargento as Vovô * Tonico Pereira as Carcereiro * Áulio Ribeiro * Luciana Bezerra * Antônio Gomes * Nelson Dantas * Carlos Vereza * José Dumont

==Production== Its production was ordered by the Franco-German TV network Arte that asked ten filmmakers of different countries about the turn of the century for the 2000, Seen By... project.<ref name=gaz>{{cite web|url=http://gazetaweb.globo.com/gazetadealagoas/imprimir.php?c=121015 |title=Meu tempo é hoje |date=December 29, 2007 |work=Gazeta de Alagoas |author=Barbosa, Rafhael |accessdate=May 28, 2014 |language=Portuguese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529085005/http://gazetaweb.globo.com/gazetadealagoas/imprimir.php?c=121015 |archivedate=May 29, 2014 }}</ref> A co-production with France,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://veja.abril.com.br/031199/p_157a.html | title=Uma deprê total | author=Boscov, Isabela | date=November 3, 1999 | work=Veja | publisher=Editora Abril | accessdate=May 28, 2014 | language=Portuguese | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601171633/http://veja.abril.com.br/031199/p_157a.html | archivedate=June 1, 2014 }}</ref> it was produced in three weeks with a low budget.<ref name=gaz/>

==Reception== It won the 2000 Ariel Award for Best Ibero-American Film,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.academiamexicanadecine.org.mx/ver_ariel.asp?tipo=ariel&idPersona=826 |title=Ariel > Ganadores y nominados > Walter Salles |publisher=Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas |accessdate=May 28, 2014 |language=Spanish |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084625/http://www.academiamexicanadecine.org.mx/ver_ariel.asp?tipo=ariel&idPersona=826 |archivedate=May 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the 1st Grande Prêmio Cinema Brasil for Best Actor (Nachtergaele), Director and Screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acervo.folha.com.br/fsp/2000/02/14/21 |title=Depois do 'Oscar', governo muda regras do cinema |date=February 14, 2000 |work=Folha de S. Paulo |publisher=Grupo Folha |accessdate=February 27, 2014 |language=Portuguese |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228024825/http://acervo.folha.com.br/fsp/2000/02/14/21 |archivedate=February 28, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0166707|title=Midnight}} * {{tcmdb title|id=451650}}

Category:1998 films Category:Films directed by Walter Salles Category:Films directed by Daniela Thomas Category:Brazilian drama films Category:1998 drama films Category:Films scored by Antônio Pinto Category:1990s Portuguese-language films Category:1998 Brazilian films