Woody Allen is seriously considering ending his career

“The romanticism around cinema has disappeared,” considers the director, who returns to his stormy relationship with the film industry in a recent interview.

He already said it last year, when Stroke of luckhis fiftieth feature film to see again this evening on Canal +was presented in Venice: Woody Allen is disappointed by the film industry. Pursued by the controversies and other sex scandals for several years, the director has struggled to find the financing necessary for the production of his feature films, but also distributors, essential players in the life of a film.

In a recent interview with Airmail and reported by IndieWirethe eighty-eight-year-old filmmaker reflects on his growing weariness in the face of the obstacles that get in the way of his films:

“Whether I'm distributed here (in the United States, editor's note) or not doesn't matter to mesays Allen. Once I made the film, I'm not anymore. Distribution is no longer what it used to be. Today, distribution is two weeks in a cinema… And that's it. Annie Hall remained in New York theaters for a little over a year. It would stay in a theater for six or seven months, then someone would pick it up and it would stay for a few more months. The entire industry has changed, and not in an attractive way. The romanticism of cinema has disappeared.”

Retirement for Woody Allen? His 50th film is likely to be his last

Nostalgic for an era that saw its greatest hits distributed en masse (like Manhattan, Stardust Memories, Radio Days or The Purple Rose of Cairo), the director doesn't stop there. After the failure of Stroke of luck, released last year, it could stop the charges. When asked if he could dive back into a new project, Woody Allen replied:

“I don't know what it is yet. I don't want to have to go and raise money. I find it painful. But if someone comes forward and calls and says they want to support the film, then I I'll think about it seriously… I probably wouldn't have the willpower to say no, because I have so many ideas.”

Especially since the four-time Oscar-winning artist, more author than director, does not carry all the tasks that fall to filmmakers in his heart. He is not the only one, moreover, to hold this opinion. George Lucas, for example, is not keen on filming or writing dialogue. However, this aspect would weigh in the balance of a potential retirement of Woody Allen, or in any case, does not encourage him to continue:

“There are many directors who love everything about making films, choosing costumes and working with actors, he confides. I never liked any of that.”

Here is our review of Stroke of luckto watch again this evening on television:

Stroke of luck: Woody Allen disappoints (review)