Woody Allen: Is Rifkin’s Festival his last film?

Woody Allen, 86, is back in Europe for his new comedy, Rifkin’s Festival. Originally slated for release in September 2021, the film has been pushed back to July 13, 2022.

Three years after A Rainy Day in New York, the filmmaker once again tells us a comical and romantic story. This time, he takes us to Spain, 14 years after Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

An American couple vacationing at the San Sebastián festival fall under the spell of the event, of Spain and of the magic emanating from the films. The wife has an affair with a brilliant French director while her husband is cheating on her with a beautiful Spaniard.

These romantic tribulations are carried by Wallace Shawn, who plays Mort Rifkin, a sort of alter ego of Woody Allen. His wife, Sue, is played by Gina Gershon.

Philippe, the brilliant director who will turn Sue’s head, is played by Louis Garrel. As for Elena Anaya, she will slip into the blouse of Dr. Rojas, who will get closer to Rifkin, abandoned by his wife.

From his therapist’s office to this doctor’s office, the hero in an identity crisis will try to find himself. However, he will have to face his volcanic husband, played by Sergi López.

Note that Christoph Waltz is also in the game but does not appear in the trailer. In any case, Rifkin’s Festival seems to be part of the purest tradition of Woody Allen films. To get to the bottom of it, go to the dark rooms!

THE LAST FILM BEFORE RETIREMENT?

Note that this work could be the last of the famous director of Annie Hall or Match Point. Asked by Alec Baldwin during a live on his Instagram account, the New Yorker mentioned the possible end of his career as a filmmaker.

“I will probably still make a movie. I must admit that most of my feelings have disappeared. I no longer have those chills that I used to feel”he confessed, not without a hint of bitterness.

“Before, when I made a feature film, it was shown all over the country. Now you make a film and it is only shown for two weeks in a cinema.

Hopefully it will be 6 weeks, or 4 weeks, and then it will go to streaming or VOD. It’s not the same anymore… It’s not at all pleasant for me”says the director.

I will probably make another film. I must admit that most of my feelings have disappeared. I no longer have those chills I used to feel.

“I no longer have the same pleasure in staging a work and showing it in a cinema. It was a nice feeling to know that 500 people were having fun watching it.

Now, I don’t really know what it feels like to make a film. I’ll make another one and then I’ll see how I feel”he concluded.

Since 2018, Woody Allen has been in turmoil after accusations of sexual assault by his adopted daughter. Subsequently, in the wake of the MeToo movement, Hollywood turned its back on him and the director found it much more difficult to set up his projects, he who had accustomed the public to one feature film per year.

Aged 86, the Oscar-winning filmmaker for Annie Hall should therefore permanently turn off his cameras after the shooting of a last feature film.

Asked by The Sunday Journal at the beginning of July, Woody Allen confided that his last film would take place in Paris with a French cast. The filmmaker specifies that he has even already found the main actors for this thriller, the filming of which is due to begin in September.

Woody Allen: 1 movie, 1 line