One of the great pleasures I’ve had over the last few years
has been discovering a range of directors and filmmakers whose work I enjoy,
and then digging into their back catalogues of work. Unlike up and coming
directors, with whom you may have to wait a few years in between projects, you
can find yourself with an entire career just waiting to be discovered, ready to
go.
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Woody Allen is one of the most prolific directors working
currently and so has a seemingly endless supply of films for me to dive into at
various times. Even with his weakest films I find elements to enjoy and the
pleasure of discovering a new creation of his hasn’t worn off. Another Woman
is, deliberately so, a minor but interesting work. A far cry from his early
slapstick days it is instead a thoughtful and low-key drama in the vein of
Ingrid Bergman, who Allen has frequently cited a major influence on his work.
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The film stars Gena Rowlands as Marion Post as a relatively successful
academic author who rents a small apartment to work on her latest book. Whilst
there she discovers she can overhear the conversations coming from the
psychiatrists office next door, and she slowly begins to becoming involved in
the plight of a sad young woman, played by Mia Farrow. Alongside this she
begins a process of self analysis with regards to her own life, and discovers
it isn’t as she had always thought. By using these two opposing characters,
Allen skilfully explores the notion of self-deception, for good or bad, and how
the way our actions and bahviours affect others. Marion has always considered
herself sensible and logical,
distancing herself from emotions. As such her marriage to Ian Holm has long
been a side show of dinner parties and routine, likewise her relationship with
her brother, whom she has always looked down on and criticised, is strained in ways
she had never realised. Throughout the film we are shown flashbacks to episodes
from Marion’s past, including a former romantic interest in Gene Hackman’s
Larry Lewis, with whom she had genuine feelings but was unable to follow her
heart. Despite the film sounding quite dry, and being ostensibly dramatic in
nature its well drawn characters and brief running time alleviate much of the
potential for psychological meanderings. In fact the story is very restrained
and compact, Gena Rowlings is great in the lead role, Marion is a woman who
gives very little away and she managed to say a lot with looks and gestures.
Farrow impresses as usual in her small, but key role, as do most of the
supporting cast.
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This is still a relatively minor film, as I have mentioned.
There is little in the way of huge dramatic scenes, or direct conflict with
even the ending feeling satisfying, but resonating more as an emotional choice
rather than large scale declaration or confrontation. Another Woman is a good
insight into a different Woody Allen, stripped of his usual schtick he has
always been a strong dramatist at heart and it was nice to see that wrought
large. Whilst I wouldn’t say the film stood out at the top of favourites of
his, it is a thoughtful and interesting film that is a worthy addition to his
body of work.
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