Woody Allen is soon to turn 89, but he is still working tirelessly, currently on a new film script. If he were to retire, he would rather give up his role as a film director, he emphasizes to TT.
I love writing. It can become a play, it can become a book. The hard part about having written a film script is that when it's finished, the really hard work begins.
Despite his age, he is vital and answers questions quickly during the interview from his home in New York. His latest film "Slumpen avgör" had its world premiere last year at the film festival in Venice, where it received positive reviews. Many thought it was his best in many years.
Refuses to comment
However, the Swedish premiere has been delayed, as allegations of sexual abuse against one of his children have made distributors and actors hesitant towards him. When TT asks Allen for a comment, the answer is that he refuses to discuss the issue in interviews, that he only talks about his new film and his career in the film industry.
"Slumpen avgör", which will have its Swedish cinema premiere on August 23, was originally supposed to be about an American couple in France.
But someone suggested that it should be made in French, and the financiers agreed. I don't speak French, but they speak English, and I can see during a take if someone is good or not.
The film depicts how the wealthy Fanny begins an affair with her friend Alain and how this leads to catastrophe. True to form, Woody Allen avoids explicit sex and violence, despite much of the thriller dealing with this.
I have nothing against it in principle, but it's so few films that use it artistically. It just becomes infantile and stupid. In 90 percent of cases, it's not needed.
"It's in my DNA"
Even in his thrillers, Allen's storytelling has a light tone.
It's in my DNA. If Martin Scorsese had made "Slumpen avgör", it would have become heavy and spectacular. In my DNA, there is comedy.
In October, a new play will premiere in Budapest, and he is now working on the new film script.
I want to make the film next spring. It's intended for New York, but with a little rewriting, it could be changed to be filmed somewhere else. I love it, then my family and I can be in a city for three-four months and really experience it.
He wanted to direct a film in Stockholm for many years, but it didn't happen.
I had a good story, but I couldn't convince the financiers to invest in it.
Age: 88 years.
Family: Wife Soon-Yi, two children in that relationship, three from the relationship with Mia Farrow.
Lives: In New York.
Occupation: Screenwriter, director.
Previous films, selected: "Död och pina", "Annie Hall", "Manhattan", "Hannah och hennes systrar", "Små och stora brott", "Kulregn över Broadway", "Scoop", "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", "Match point", "Blue jasmine", "Midnatt i Paris".
Currently with: "Slumpen avgör", which will have its Swedish cinema premiere on August 23.
The allegations against Woody Allen began in 1992, in connection with the breakup from his then-partner Mia Farrow. Woody Allen was accused of committing sexual abuse against his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, then 7 years old. The rest of the family did not want to pursue the legal process further, due to Dylan's fragile state.
At the same time, Woody Allen admitted to having a relationship with Mia Farrow's adult adopted child, Soon-Yi Previn, whom Farrow had from a previous relationship. Soon-Yi Previn and Woody Allen later got married and are still married.
Woody Allen has consistently denied the allegations of sexual abuse and called them "untrue" and "shameful". He has not been convicted of any crime.
