Annie HAll

Directed by Woody Allen
Released on 20 April 1977

story-line

The film is set in New York City and Los
Angeles.
Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) is a neurotic
comedian, attempting to maintain a
relationship with the seemingly ditzy but
exuberant Annie (Diane Keaton). The film
chronicles their relationship over several
years, intercut with various imaginary trips
into each other's history (Annie is able to
"see" Alvy's family when he was only a child,
and likewise Alvy observes Annie's past
sexual relationships). In the first flashback
showing Alvy as a child, we learn he was
raised in Brooklyn; his father's occupation
was operating a bumper cars concession and
the family home was located below the
Thunderbolt roller coaster on Coney Island.
After many arguments and reconciliations,
the two realize they are fundamentally
different and split up. Annie moves in with
Hollywood record company executive Tony
Lacey (Paul Simon); Annie likes California,
but Alvy hates it. Alvy soon realizes he still
loves her after seeing Children of Paradise
(Les Enfants du Paradis) and tries to
convince her to return with him to New York.
He fails and, resignedly, returns home to
write a play about their relationship,
recycling the conversation just exchanged
but ending with him winning Annie back.
Later, with Annie back in New York, the two
are able to meet on good terms as friends,
now with different lovers. Alvy ends the film
by musing about how love and relationships
are something we all require despite their
often painful and complex nature.