So who can blame me for getting into a state of euphoria over a Woody Allen film? I am a hardcore Woody Allen fan! And I am a firm believer and advocate of AUTEURISM. I mean, which artist worth his salt wouldn’t make his ART about himself? And who is the head honcho of American AUTEURISM? WOODY ALLEN! So what is it about this scrawny little motor-mouth with the signature black-rimmed glasses too huge for his mousy face that gets me all excited? Why, his intellectual musings, unmatchable wit, and self-deprecating humour of course! His incessant chatter, I admit, can get rather trying at times, because nobody really enjoys listening to interminable whinging or being confronted with continuous cynicism and negativity for over an hour and a half! So why do I (and many others) put up with Woody Allen? Because this pint-sized, bespectacled genius is a visionary and there is profound wisdom in his observations about life and love. Because he speaketh the truth!

 

Annie Hall is one movie that has special significance for me. The relationship between Annie and Alvy is a freaky parallel version of a relationship I was once in. I share and understand many of their experiences, both positive and negative. The dynamics and psychology of the two characters in question were quite spot-on too. Even the outcome of the relationship is almost an uncanny match. I saw myself in Woody Allen when I first watched Annie Hall a couple of years back. It was both a disturbing and enlightening realization. Don’t get me wrong. I am very proud to identify with such a weirdly wired genius like Woody Allen, but I also recognize how dysfunctional and lonely a character like that can be in a world that always falls short of his expectations! Being mismatched with the world is a tough existence.

 

 

 

The discovery of my affinity with Woody Allen is a poignant one, because while it reminds me of how much I don’t fit in with the rest of the world, it also explains why I don’t fit in, and validates my right to be different (and perhaps even difficult). But you know what? It suits me just fine!