5 March 2021.
By Neptune
I stand by Woody Allen. As a cinephile, I write this in response to the ongoing, very damning 4-part TV documentary called “Allen v Farrow”. They are out to put the nail in his coffin.
We know that writers, historians, filmmakers and the media can and do colour their stories by juggling facts – highlighting some areas and diminishing other parts that may not coincide with the view they wish to project. What is happening here is an outrageous public witch-hunt.
This highly-slanted documentary is based on the long-running allegations of sexual misconduct towards their daughter brought by Mia Farrow against Allen back in 1992 when they were going through separation battles. They had been together for 12 years and 13 films (1980-1992), had never married and had lived in separate apartments in Manhattan. Allen had started an affair with Farrow’s 21 year-old adoptive Korean daughter, Soon-Yi, to whom he is still married, and has had two children by. The affair was neither morally nor emotionally kosher, but he admitted to it and stood by her.
It was obviously a huge scandal, heightened by the shock and pain to Farrow and her many adoptive children, as well as to their only mutual child, Satchel Farrow Allen, who is now the 33 year-old journalist Ronan Farrow. Ronan, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Frank Sinatra (Mia Farrow’s ex-husband), has come out vehemently against Allen. Their relationships are incredibly complicated, to say the least. A few of the family children have defended and stood by Allen, as has Soon-Yi, but they are not in the documentary.
So in 1992, the distraught Mia Farrow accused Allen of having molested their 7 year-old adopted daughter, Dylan, because of a “touching” incident in the attic, which seems to have become further embellished in the documentary. After various investigations, courtroom clashes and much media fodder, Allen was completely exonerated at the time.
Allen has always denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the little girl (who is now 35) was psychologically influenced and manipulated by her enraged mother. And now this exploitive series, riding the toxic MeToo wave with Ronan, Dylan and Mia plowing on in their accusations, continues to stir the muck. 4 episodes?!?
In the meantime, some of the actors in his previous films have come out with holier-than-thou statements of shock at these (unproven) allegations, while certain distributors and publishers have refused to touch his recent works. What utter hypocrisy, or to paraphrase Jesus, “the one that is without sin, cast the first stone”…
Why on earth try to destroy a great artist at the twilight of his life (85 years-old) who has given so many exceptional moments to his multitude of fans? Who does it help? Is such stale revenge still so sweet? Is this really necessary?
To set the record straight on his artistic accomplishments, Allen has steadily written and directed 50 films in the past 50 years, filled with comedy, nostalgia, human foibles and questions about life and death. They often reflect his own hangups and transition through life, as did Picasso’s works. He could be considered one of the finest undeclared philosophers of the 20th century.
He has won 4 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes and 10 BAFTAS (from 24 nominations each in the Oscars and the BAFTAS, and 13 nominations in the Golden Globes!) He has not accepted any as he does not believe in competition in the arts.
His actresses, Dianne Keaton, Cate Blanchett and Dianne Wiest have won acting Oscars for his films, ANNIE HALL, BLUE JASMINE, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS and BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. His works have been continually honoured at the Cannes film festival, always out of Competition, according to his wishes.
Hilarious films such as his early TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, PLAY IT AGAIN SAM or LOVE AND DEATH showed his brilliant comic writing. THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO was an innovative marvel of delicate romance incorporating the magic of the silver screen. He broke hearts and turned nostalgic with MANHATTAN, BROADWAY DANNY ROSE, RADIO DAYS and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. He became serious and psychological with INTERIORS, SEPTEMBER and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
After his signature New York settings, he went off to Europe for such gems as SHADOWS AND FOG (a tribute to Kafka and film noir), the chilling MATCHPOINT set in London, the naughty VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA and the delightful MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT on the Riviera.
But in between, he would go back to his philosophical comedies such as the wacky MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERIES, the art vs gangster BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, or the loopy and wise WHATEVER WORKS. All these with top actors waiting on line to be in his films.
His early book, WITHOUT FEATHERS, will have you laughing at every page, his latest APROPOS OF NOTHING is a delight of moments in his life and reflections from the corners of his mind. And he loves playing his clarinet every week with a group of his jazz buddies. Not as a celebrity, but just as one of the musicians.
An excellent way to know him better is Alec Baldwin’s in-depth interview with Woody Allen from 4/6/20, which you can Google.
Let the man be. He is a quiet, unassuming genius.
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.
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Edie says
You do realize that greatly talented people can do horrible things, yes? You seem not to realize that his entire oevre has revolved on older men going for underage women — actually, preternaturally sexualized Lolitas going after Allen or variations of Allen. Instead, you prefer to blindly stand by a man you don’t even know for the sake of cinema. “Look at his merits!” you exclaim, and meanwhile there is a young woman with PTSD whose story has not changed one bit.
Neptune, stick to obscure blogging with eyes shut. You’re doing great. That is as far as you shall get.
Rebecca L Conger says
To defend Woody is heinous did you watch the documentery? That little girl was NOT lying you ass!
Anne says
Anyone who thinks Farrow just made up the allegations because of his sleeping with her high school age daughter (testimony at the custody hearing places Soon Yi in his apartment as a teenager with spiked sheets and condiments wrappers) didn’t look at any of the evidence or documentary. The fact that he was already in therapy over inappropriate behavior with Dylan prior to the discovery of the naked photos of Farrow’s daughter is damning.
Helena says
As a child, Dylan Farrow wasn’t found credible by two independent teams of experts on sexual abuse – not one, two. She even said: “I like to cheat with my stories.”
As an adult, she’s multiplying new lies: just Google “Dylan Farrow : 8 lies in 9 Paragraphs”.
Moses Farrow was 14 and present on August 4, 1992 and confirmed that Woody Allen didn’t abused his sister Dylan. He also confirmed the Yale report suggesting that Dylan was coached by Mia Farrow, a woman with a long pattern of abuse on her adopted children (she adopted six Asian children, two have reported multiple abuse, three are dead, two by suicide).
There is a true documentary on Youtube, with more than 200.000 views: “By The Way, Woody Allen is Innocent.” You can also find it on IMDB.
Solverleaf says
You’re pathetic. And clearly didn’t even bother watching or you’d see how all of that was addressed.
Pablo says
Strange: still nobody bleating that Woody Allen married his daughter ? Why ? Everyone knows that in US you can marry your own child, no?
Something else: Dylan Farrow can still brings Woody Allen to civil court but she’s lying about it. And the filmmakers of “Allen v. Farrow” too. Why in your opinion?
BTW, to lie by omission is still to lie (lying by omission is when a person leaves out important information or fails to correct a pre-existing misconception in order TO HIDE THE TRUTH from others). Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering can be proud of their work: just like the Farrow clan, they are part of the biggest liars on earth and probably some other planets.
Morris says
Right-on, Neptune !
Antonia Tejeda Barros says
Thank you so much for this great article. This insanity must stop. I too love, admire, and support Woody!
Violeteal says
Nobody cares. His life is ruined and I couldn’t be happier.
Yo says
You are sad, small, miserable person.
Maglo says
Christ, Antonia you are pathetic. It’s not “insane” to say the person who raped a child did what they did, just because you like his movies in particular and are too lazy to look in to the truth. Get a life. His movies don’t make you cultured or sophisticated, as we can tell by your air-headed assessment of the situation. Find something else to watch – most of it is better, I promise you.
Also, I get the feeling that some of the people here defending him are just cool with child abuse and are cloaking it in the pretence of doubt.