Woody Allen's "Annie Hall"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Woody Allen's ambivalence toward his Jewish identity and toward love as portrayed in "Annie Hall". The author points out that, to Allen, Judaism is more a secular ethnic identity than religious. The paper explores Allen and his characters as neurotic protagonists that employ humor as both a defense mechanism and a communication device.

From the Paper:

"Alvy's humor both exacerbates and assuages his sense of misplacement. Alvy's brand of humor is distinctly Jewish: Full of cultural references and self-deprecation. It also hints at the discomfort of being Jewish that is rarely expressed explicitly in Allen movies. Alvy tells Rob, "The failure of the country to get behind New York City is anti-Semitism. I'm not discussing politics or economics this is foreskin." Humor here serves as a buffer against anti-Semitism and parallels Alvy's ambivalence towards his ethnic minority. His sarcasm embodies the tension and duality of being pulled in two directions."

More papers on Woody Allen's "Annie Hall":

• Film Review # 117978 : "Annie Hall"
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