Another Woman
1988 Directed by Woody Allen
Synopsis
Marion is a woman who has learned to shield herself from her emotions. She rents an apartment to work undisturbed on her new book, but by some acoustic anomaly she can hear all that is said in the next apartment in which a psychiatrist holds his office. When she hears a young woman tell that she finds it harder and harder to bear her life, Marion starts to reflect on her own life. After a series of events she comes to understand how her unemotional attitude towards the people around her affected them and herself.
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Part of **No ReWatch November 2012**.
I am not sure I want to think too deeply about this film right now; it hits really close to home. And of course my desire not to examine it corresponds perfectly with Gena Rowlands's brilliant character portrayal.
I had read that Woody was paying tribute to Bergman. I wouldn't have grasped the references a year ago. But now that I've had a taste of Bergman's work, I see it clearly. The themes are all there - alienation, communication, family issues, regret. (The only thing missing is the question of God.) Even the opening scene with the voiceover and the family photos comes right out of Wild Strawberries.
Not an easy film to watch, but it's fantastic and worth the patience.
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Easily my favorite of Woody Allen's 'serious' films (that's if we count the amazing Alice as more of a comedy).
I love that this isn't just Allen trying to replicate Bergman but rather being influenced by him.
I felt myself connecting and empathising with the main character's predicaments even though I'm a great deal younger than her. I don't know if that's because of who I am or because the script was well written and the part was well played, but either way this was a quality film. -
Gena Rowlands brilliantly plays a woman who has a hard time opening up to others, even herself, who has chosen to dive into the life of the mind instead of simply living. It is poignant, as Woody Allen's scripts often are, but without as much comedy. Rather, he allows the character unfold to herself, allowing her to analyze her own issues, even as she listens to others' sessions with a psychologist.
I love the theatrical feel of the drama, and many of the performances are fantastic, especially as it draws to a close. The closeness to the film that opened up Bergman to me-- Wild Strawberries-- probably helps in my love of the film. It would make a great double feature with Wild Strawberries, as it is really an interpretation of that work.
One of my favorite of Allen's works.
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For a while, I was sort of annoyed by Marion's tendency to narrate the events of her own life in such an on-the-nose manner. Then it hit me that OF COURSE Marion (Gena Rowlands, masterful) would do that- she's the sort of person who would want to neatly package all of her actions with a minimum of emotional fuss, just to "set the record straight," if only to herself. Once I got over that hump, the movie as a whole got pretty heartbreaking, being the story of a woman who deludes herself that everything's fine because her sense of balance depends on it. The packaging and available synopses for this make it sound like the "another woman" of the title…
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An intelligent look at the nature of privacy, secrecy and honesty, and how the choices we make - both as people and, self-reflexively, as filmmaker, affects perception.
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It's no secret that Woody Allen idolized Bergman (which shouldn't come as much of a shock, since lots of people, myself included, share the same sentiment). He has tried, with mixed results, to make a true homage to the legend with Interiors and September, but with Another Woman, he finally made a film that not only hits the examining, existential notes that Bergman hit routinely, but one that remarkably feels like a Woody Allen film in terms of its incredibly astute screenplay and beautiful staging.
Some have called Another Woman a Wild Strawberries remake, but I would argue that it isn't a remake as much as it is a reimagining, or more to the point, a "repurposing" of the Bergman…
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A lot of Allen's movies revolve around therapy and a few (this one and everyone says I love you) around this voyeuristic idea of secretly listening into a session. That voyeurism is the kick off of this intricate unraveling of a woman. This film continues what Woody started with Interiors: a Bergman-esque examination of intimate relationships. To me this is his most subtle and nuanced work and it's absolutely brilliant! I cant say enough about Gena Rowlands! My god the tales she can weave with just an expression. The sense of burden and regret her character carries with her is palpable. Bravo!
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Gena Rowlands brilliantly plays a woman who has a hard time opening up to others, even herself, who has chosen to dive into the life of the mind instead of simply living. It is poignant, as Woody Allen's scripts often are, but without as much comedy. Rather, he allows the character unfold to herself, allowing her to analyze her own issues, even as she listens to others' sessions with a psychologist.
I love the theatrical feel of the drama, and many of the performances are fantastic, especially as it draws to a close. The closeness to the film that opened up Bergman to me-- Wild Strawberries-- probably helps in my love of the film. It would make a great double feature with Wild Strawberries, as it is really an interpretation of that work.
One of my favorite of Allen's works.
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With narration throughout, and with a sense of attending a play, Another Woman doesn't come across as particularly cinematic... until it does. There's a memorable scene in Central Park and some nice shots of her childhood backyard and workshop. The draw of this film is in the questions it asks and the actors who I get to see ask them.The biggest of the questions is, are you aware of how fully you're living your life?
I love, love, love when a Broadway play gets recorded for those of us who can't get there readily; giving us a portion of the experience. Two of my favorites are Into the Woods and Hugh Jackman's Oklahoma. They're snapshots of something that isn't there…
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Although I consider myself a fairly big Woody Allen fan, I haven't had much experience with his pure-drama films. The closest I have gotten prior to Another Woman would be "Stardust Memories", a funny yet bitter look at celebrity and film making. However, "Another Woman" has very little humor in it, not that it should. Saturated in Bergman-esque attributes, Another Woman's dark and pessimistic reflections on life, marriage, regret, and family, Allen really embraces his inner Bergman, with sweeping dream scenes, cold and heartless monologues, and generally depressing views on existence. Essentially a character study, Another Woman focuses on Marion, a college professor played by Gena Rowlands, who's marriage is suffering, and who's past has been haunting her. Rowlands carries…
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Surprisingly boring.
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A beautiful film. Gena Rowlands is stunningly beautiful and acts with a perfect, natural poise. The entire cast is amazing, in fact. An absolutely wonderful film. Woody Allen's love of Bergman is clear.
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Interesting film. I'm not the biggest fan of serious Woody, but it was still good.
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Two of the best and most underrated female actors front and center. I'm in.
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Another good dramatic Woody Allen film.
The strength of this film is it's structure-it's radical changes and it's performances.
Gena Rowlands does a very good job in the lead role-the only problem I had with this character was she never has that explosive scene even when given the opportunity-she always remains reserved.
Mia Farrow is great again-not a lot of her in this film and most of the time we don't even see her but the sounds of her acting coming through a vent are strong. I love this woman!
Ian Holm was alright-nothing to get excited about.
The most pleasant surprise of the film was Gene Hackman. Many complain that he plays the same person in every film but…