FRANCE 24 The Interview - Full interview with Woody Allen

THE INTERVIEW - Woody Allen is in Cannes with his new film, "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (out of competition), a solid if somewhat disappointing comedy. See FRANCE24s exclusive interview with Allen and read our critics view of his latest offering. Interview by Hakim Zejjari.

[@walkmanjoe]

i want to see him star in one more movie. i love him. the glasses,mannerisms, the way he dresses, the way he talks.

[@neondemon5518]

you’ll say the same thing after he’s acted in 10 more movies

[@antoniatejedabarros]

We love you, Woody! Thank you so much for your art!

[@usergently]

"I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens" -Woody Allen

[@MAGICDRAGONPETE]

Wow! this interview is extremely thought provoking, asking the greatest question of all.

[@salwood]

It's like he's telling everyone my own thoughts. Love it.

[@trinidadinternational]

Mine as well

[@LayItPlayItDown]

I love him even more right now! I've seen all his films & look forward to the next as the cinematic peak of this year. . . Perfect timing for me to hear this interview too as it's election-day today in Sweden and everybody has a frenzy about it. & by the way, this thought is reminiscent of the scene in "Hannah and her Sisters" where Allen's character ends up in the cinema. Soon we'll be flushed away & right now i find peace in that, so i'll go to bed ;) Love him for awaking me!

[@Planetoxo]

Ha ha. And I thought I was alone in thinking like you do Woody!

[@planelover3640]

Im so pumped I get to play this guy for my english presentation let alone write a research paper on him, he's such a boss.

[@zejjari1]

@MAGICDRAGONPETE Thanks a lot, even if it's not written as usual... I’m Hakim Zejjari the freelance journalist who made the interview . It was quiet surreal to stay in front of the "myth", a kind of " Purple rose of the Cairo" experience.. and the interview turned magically into this conversation about life and death. Great moment!

[@rhykko77]

I think our mission on earth is to figure out a way to make each of our lives better, and if we have anything left over, we might want to help others along the way.

[@JeanEtchepare]

Woody is a philosopher when he says 'every hundred years everybody on the planet is flushed out, and a new population arises for another hundred years, and so on

[@maxbrown8044]

This is some good philosophy. I think anyone who is willing to sit there and philosophize about real shit deserves respect on an intellectual level. It takes some balls.

[@forrest2416]

The most clever person around

[@gabriel82030]

Yes, why worry and live and let live is the motto. Life goes in cycles and dont despair and keep on working. Peace is what we should strive for no matter how. The meaning of life is within ourselves and we should try to find it.

[@petermadero3840]

So true !!!!!

[@Thegarethcrossman]

Watching this for about the 40th time. From bed. In fact, haven't been able to get out of it for weeks.

[@inkstersco]

Well I've not seen the Paris one, but often it's all about a tuorrist's experience of a city. Even when the movie is about natives, e.g. Cassandra's Dream, it just strikes a British viewer as wierd that this garage mechanic swans around Thames-side restaurants etc. It just feels like a real good story set in a tourist video.

[@MrGreen428]

@septip123 I agree. I think a lot of these people misinterpret how uplifting his statement really is.

[@LoizalDea70]

Love how he goes on about there being no meaning in the universe...conveying this core doubt...meaningfully. :-)

[@bottleracket]

Another uplifting tale by Woody Allen.

[@charlessundborn]

@walkmanjoe theres one coming out in 2012 i think in which Woody Allen has a role with Jesse Eisenberg. I think they've already started shooting

[@RealTime88]

@walkmanjoe Me too. I just saw You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and I thought it was so beautiful, funny, and sad.

[@metyuewb]

Well that's a high fucking plateau, I wish the biggest of my worries was the sun burning out.

[@Attritive]

He's said this sort of thing since he started writing. It's called philosophy.

[@nicolamcguinness8689]

Gavin Robinson talk about Murray Alper

[@helloryca]

After just having watched Annie Hall for the 17th time, I'm struck by how closely he still resembles himself from 1977. The anxiety, the hypochondria, that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable. I mean, it's funny but I'm surprised he didn't find a way to chill that out over the years... it's as though he *wants* to drive himself crazy.

[@macfeetie]

Man - I agree with him

[@Lifestream]

I think it's obvious he understands one must live in the present or he wouldn't be making films. He states it himself that you cannot live with a bleak outlook or you won't be able to get up in the morning. One can understand the concepts of thermodynamics and still have a feeling of existential angst. Why is everything you state mutually exclusive?

[@anitasseo]

superlative, as always. i notice he´s each time a little more negative, in a way?--- don´t blame him for that, though (in fact he´s very brave).. but i still, in a way -even though i don´t do drugs anymore-, find magic in many things... animals, nature, old people, kids... music... just little moments. what i mean is, i do believe there´s "something else", even though i agree 99% with him in terms of the "big picture"......

[@aquares]

Wise words

[@internet1965]

@cosmosyy weird that you say that. he said nothing that has not been said by many physicists. Yes they are theories but they are not his theories. and you should look for a library because there is a lot we know about the universe.

[@Gordon_2000]

The magic trick is being able to enjoy the present. Sounds simple, but ew do that, of all the people who have the possibility. Nothing dies or is born, we are only energy, everything is energy and there is a balance for all energy in the universe, there is no need to ever be afraid. Woody is one of many who are blinded by daily life, and cannot see this truth.

[@JulieGringer]

Allways in my prayers Love-(greetins from Jesus:-) )

[@LoizalDea70]

@cosmosyy exactly. Lot's of folks forget this. Lack of info and empirical data is a 2-way street. :-)

[@AkvileAlex]

New York lover.Not the first. :)

[@greyfoxagenda]

@fadsyt who is... :)

[@truvelocity]

@karmalevel Just because someone doesn't follow the road you are on doesn't mean they are lost. They are just as balanced and satisfied following theirs.

[@diegocal]

hE IS MY FRIEND

[@11Creativedotcom]

wow.

[@renues]

What's Wrong With His Eye? His Wikipedia page shows the same thing...

[@Frantepic18]

@Handiman544 well, if it is "most of us" then it would technically be the average- being as average is a standard set by the masses. You are right to an extent but in some respects I would call Woody Allen a genius

[@charly77ish]

He prolly just re read escape from evil and it inspired that conversation

[@toddmastria1]

@relp2000 you started off really good, but you lost me about nothing dying and the energy new age talk. But you are so right though about enjoying the present.

[@F2Y]

@Handiman544 If most of us are below average, then wouldn't that make us the average and Woody Allen above average? Oh, you.

[@rebelmilk]

@AbsoluteDemon I think he addresses it in his films. I mean, he keeps writing neurotic or otherwise disturbed characters who are mostly plagued by these very ideas. Whatever Works is about an older genius neurotic who can't function because of the horror of thinking of that shit, and then, you know, he is saved by other people. Think about a movie that's about these issues with no comedy, nothing to balance it out. It's a lecture. Or it's an interview. This was nice, but it's not for movies.

[@Gallifrey1991]

I know he's 74 but he seems to have deteriorated a bit which is sad :(

[@HumanCarBomb]

Woody must be on his "magic pills" in this interview......o_0

[@Jack-si2pg]

And sadly unless Woody address those fears he mentions in the beginning (and the answer is believing in Christ), he will run out of days and find himself in front of his Maker with no pardon for every misdeed he’s done. It will happen - and I say this out of love and will pray for you tonight.

[@anitasseo]

@Tapiola2007 he´s not a neurotic; maybe -respectfully-, you bought the carachters he played so very well... Saying he´s a neurotic and saying he´s a great actor are not the same things. Ask him if he considers himself a neurotic or not..

[@lonelygnome1]

well, SOMEbody forgot to take their prozac....

[@Handiman544]

Woody Allen is not a genius. We tend to use that word too often. When people make sense, are practical, and tell the truth we think they are deep thinkers and so profound, when actually they're just using their brains to figure things out instead of worrying about what they look like, or what our hair looks like, etc. They are rather average. The problem is most of us are not even close to being average.

[@motioneccentrica]

@walkmanjoe Your lame, you like his character his superficialities. I like whats in his head.

[@Attritive]

I wonder if Woody Allen was influenced by John Gardner.

[@krishnachaitanyav7452]

Any Telugu ammai watching this?

[@skapunkteddybear]

he makes me feel as if i'm going to die tomorrow. paranoia, check.

[@inkstersco]

I prefer his wiritng better than his plotting and diretor. I like things such as Cassandra's dream rather than weak romantic comedies set in tourist traps.

[@AbsoluteDemon]

Woody, baby, don't you see that this is what you need to start making films about? You know you aren't some urbane thirty-something anymore -- why keep making films about them? Instead of churning out product every 1.5 years to keep yourself distracted, take a good hard look at what you're avoiding and address it on reels. You don't have much time left. Give yourself the sendoff you deserve.

[@Luke.hello.]

How is he ignorant?

[@DavidBeecraft]

disappointing to hear woody talk about this rather simplified belief system

[@karmalevel]

he is now pathetic! he has no faith do to pride and selfcenteredness!!!

[@truvelocity]

@karmalevel You mean to tell me that if someone has no faith, the personality, accomplishments, and talent mean absolutely nothing to you? You just throw the baby out with the bath water? You just decide that people are pathetic who are your educators, your doctors, your movers and shakers in this world who don't believe in God are now pathetic? What is wrong with you?

[@karmalevel]

So sad that he does not believe in God!!

[@catholicpriest1]

Woody is as dogmatic about his non-belief as are those who believe in God (or in magic as he puts it). He states with such certitude that there is no heaven, hell, etc.