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Synopsis

Considered by many to be Woody Allen’s best film, even over Annie Hall. Hannah and Her Sisters follows a multitude of characters: Hannah (Mia Farrow), who plays den mother to her extended family; her sister Lee (Barbara Hershey), emotional and a bit of a flake, who’s involved with a much older artist (Max Von Sydow), who treats her like a child; and Hannah’s other sister, Holly (Dianne Wiest), a neurotic who feels incapable of managing her life. Hannah’s husband Elliot (Michael Caine) falls in love with Lee, which sets off a series of upheavals. Allen gives one of his best performances as Hannah’s ex-husband Mickey, who—much like Allen himself—is obsessed with death and unhappiness. But a simple summary doesn’t begin to capture the warmth and intimacy of this movie; though the story follows a capsizing family, the outcome is surprising, joyous, and richly human. –Bret Fetzer

Director

Original

Woody Allen

Actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright Woody Allen redefined film comedy during the 1970s, bringing a new measure of sophistication and personal complexity to the form. Born Allen Stewart Konigsberg in Brooklyn, NY, on December 1, 1935, he adopted his stage name at the age of 17, and in 1953 enrolled in NYU’s film program, and soon dropping out of school to begin writing for comedian David Alber. Two years later, Allen graduated to writing for television; during his five-year in television, his efforts won him an Emmy nomination. He eventually decided to try his hand as a stand-up performer. After slowly gaining a reputation on the New York-club circuit, he became a frequent talk show guest and in 1964 issued his self-titled debut comedy LP. With 1966’s What’s Up, Tiger Lily?, a puckish re-tooling of a Japanese spy thriller complete with his own story line and dubbed English dialogue, he made his directorial debut. In 1969 Allen directed two short films for a CBS television special… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 25 wall posts.
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AdamantCocoon

30Sep11

Why was 1986 such a solid year? Aliens? The Green Ray? The Fly? Blue Velvet? The Sacrifice? Something Wild? She's Gotta Have It? Castle In The Sky? Top Gun (ahhh, not really...)? This?!

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Stardust Memory

6Sep11

I don't know what it is about ...... this movie that fascinates me, maybe it's some magic. The story is great & the cast is absolutely brilliant in my opinion, especially Michael Caine & Diane Wiest, who both won an Academy Award for their performances in this movie, and also Barbary Hershey & Max von Sydow were amazing. "Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands."

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Shelley

31Aug11

not my favorite Woody Allen film but still funny and enchanting. sometimes I grow tired of the broken marriage lets cheat on each other plot line. I ended up loving Diane Weist and him as a couple, though. he was hilarious but everyone else was quite depressing. still an interesting film though.

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Brett K

21Jul11

Woody's greatest achievement as a writer and as a filmmaker, featuring one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled on film.

JOE and 3 others like this

MarcH, Jonas Silgalis, K. G. Courtright

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Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

"Wise Cracks: The Comedies of Woody Allen"

By David Hudson on December 30, 2011

Notes on the series running in London through February 8.

read article

Lists

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Reviews

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Hannah and her sisters: a reflective view of life

By F.B. Elliott on June 26, 2010

Although in my Woody Allen Films list I place this movie in the third position after Annie Hall and Crimes and Misdemeanors, unquestionably, this is one of his finest works. We are thrown into our…  read review

Untitled

By Eric Osborn on June 16, 2009

I love how Allen touches on so many subjects here: love and relationships, family and friendship, mortality and religion and philosophy. So often during his films, I get the urge to jot down a line…  read review

Untitled

By Todd Kushige​machi on May 24, 2009

(Originally written November 22, 2006)

Hannah and Her Sisters is Woody Allen’s second best film only behind his 1979 opus Manhattan. These are two films that become more beautiful with repeated…  read review

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Realistic Optimism

15 posts by 4 people 4 months ago