Woody Allen’s latest endeavor, his 50th film titled “Coup de Chance,” is slated for release in U.S. theaters. MPI Media Group has announced the film’s North American theatrical release on April 5, followed by a digital and Video On Demand release on April 12.
Premiering initially at the Venice Film Festival last September, “Coup de Chance” elicited a mixed reception, with protests and a notable standing ovation lasting two and a half minutes.
Mr. Allen’s return to the U.S. theatrical scene marks a departure from the recent trend where distributors have largely steered clear of his works following renewed attention to allegations of child molestation brought forth by his adopted stepdaughter, Dylan Farrow, during the #MeToo movement. Notable actors like Rebecca Hall, Timothée Chalamet, and Greta Gerwig have publicly expressed regret over collaborating with Allen due to these allegations.
Despite the controversy surrounding the filmmaker, “Coup de Chance,” which translates to “stroke of luck,” boasts a star-studded cast including Valerie Lemercier, Niels Schneider, Lou de Laage, Elsa Zylberstein, and Melvil Poupaud. Set in Paris, the film delves into a narrative of murder and intrigue revolving around a captivating couple whose lives take a dramatic turn upon the reemergence of a former lover.
Variety’s chief film critic, Owen Gleiberman, praised the film as Allen’s finest work since 2013’s “Blue Jasmine,” affirming in his review, “Murder agrees with Woody Allen.” Kate Blanchet won Best Actress at The Academy Awards for her role in Blue Jasmine, and Mr. Allen was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
“Coup de Chance” marks Mr. Allen’s fifth collaboration with the esteemed Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.
MPI Media Group, known for its extensive catalog dating back to 1976, including the complete Dark Shadows series, is behind the release of Allen’s latest film. The company also owns Dark Sky Films, which is recognized for its recent horror hits.
Reflecting on his prolific career in an exclusive interview with Variety, Allen hinted that “Coup de Chance” might be his final feature film endeavor, citing challenges in financing future projects.
Timeline Of Controversy
In 1977, actress Mia Farrow and her then-husband André Previn welcomed Soon-Yi from South Korea into their family through adoption when she was approximately seven years old. Following their divorce in 1979, Ms. Farrow crossed paths with filmmaker Woody Allen at Elaine’s, a renowned Manhattan eatery. Their ensuing relationship, lasting 12 years, witnessed a collaboration on 13 films, including notable works like “The Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”During this period, in 1985, Ms. Farrow adopted Dylan, an infant from Texas. In an HBO documentary, Ms. Farrow claimed that Mr. Allen had specifically requested a blonde girl during the adoption process. Their union also brought forth a son, Satchel, later known as Ronan, born in 1987. Speculations about Ronan’s paternity arose over the years, with Mr. Farrow hinting at the possibility of Frank Sinatra being his biological father in a 2013 Vanity Fair interview, citing the absence of DNA testing.
In December 1991, amidst their relationship, Mr. Allen adopted both Dylan and Moses Farrow, another of Ms. Farrow’s sons, who was 13 at the time. It was during this month that Mr. Allen admitted to commencing a romantic involvement with Ms. Farrow’s daughter Soon-Yi Previn. The revelation of Mr. Allen’s relationship with Soon-Yi came to light on Jan. 13, 1992, when Ms. Farrow discovered nude photographs of her daughter in Mr. Allen’s possession, leading to a rupture within the family.
Despite the dissolution of their relationship, Mr. Allen retained visitation rights with his adopted children. However, allegations arose when, during one of Mr. Allen’s visits to Ms. Farrow’s Connecticut home on Aug. 4, 1992, Dylan accused him of assault. The alleged incident occurred in the absence of Ms. Farrow, with Dylan’s babysitter unable to locate either Mr. Allen or Dylan for a duration.
On Aug. 13, 1992, Mr. Allen filed for custody of his three children, sparking a legal battle. Subsequently, on Aug. 17, the Connecticut State Police launched an investigation into molestation accusations against Mr. Allen. Simultaneously, Mr. Allen publicly acknowledged his romantic involvement with Soon-Yi, stating, “It’s real and happily all true.”
Their professional partnership also endured during this tumultuous period, culminating in the release of their final film together, “Husbands and Wives,” on Sep. 18, 1992. The following months saw a media frenzy, with Vanity Fair publishing “Mia’s Story” in November, presenting Ms. Farrow’s viewpoint, countered by Mr. Allen’s defense on “60 Minutes.”
By March 18, 1993, Mr. Allen was cleared of assault allegations following an inquiry, yet the custody trial persisted. The trial, lasting 20 days and seven weeks, concluded on June 7, 1993, with Ms. Farrow granted custody of all shared children. Justice Elliott Wilk of the State Supreme Court criticized Mr. Allen’s conduct as a father, contrasting it with Ms. Farrow’s dedication to her children.
Despite legal exoneration, the allegations continued to haunt Mr. Allen. In January 2014, Dylan Farrow publicly reiterated her accusations, sparking renewed debate. The #MeToo movement’s emergence in 2017 further intensified scrutiny of Mr. Allen, prompting actors to distance themselves from him.
In January 1994, Woody Allen appealed the custody case, seeking to overturn previous rulings. However, the New York State appeals court rejected his appeal in May of that year, ordering him to cover an estimated $1.2 million in legal fees for Mia Farrow.
Three years later, in December 1997, Mr. Allen, then 62, and Soon-Yi Previn, aged 27, tied the knot in Venice, Italy. Previn, estranged from her family, embarked on this new chapter with Allen.
In November 2013, Vanity Fair published an extensive feature on Mia Farrow, marking a significant moment when Dylan Farrow, then 28, publicly addressed the alleged abuse for the first time.
The ensuing year saw a whirlwind of events, as Mr. Allen received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes in January 2014. Shortly after, on Feb. 1, 2014, Dylan Farrow made her allegations public in an open letter on a New York Times blog, triggering a public debate. Allen’s son, Moses Farrow, came to his defense in an interview with People, refuting Dylan’s claims.
The tide of the #MeToo movement surged in October 2017 with revelations about film mogul Harvey Weinstein. Mr. Allen’s remarks on Mr. Weinstein stirred controversy, eliciting strong reactions from various quarters.
In December 2017, Dylan Farrow penned an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, questioning why the #MeToo movement seemingly spared Mr. Allen. Her stance garnered support from several actors, further igniting discussions around Allen’s past.
On Jan. 18, 2018, Dylan Farrow recounted her allegations in her first television interview with Gayle King on CBS This Morning, prompting a response from Mr. Allen, who reiterated his denial. Later that year, Soon-Yi Previn broke her silence in an interview with New York Magazine, defending Mr. Allen and criticizing Mia Farrow’s parenting.
Subsequent years saw further controversy, with Amazon backing out of a lucrative deal with Allen in February 2019 due to renewed scrutiny of Dylan Farrow’s accusations. Mr. Allen’s memoir, initially slated for publication by Hachette Book Group, faced backlash, leading to its eventual release by Arcade Publishing.
The airing of the documentary series “Allen v. Farrow” shed new light on the allegations, inciting responses from both sides. Mr. Allen maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, while Ms. Farrow and Dylan stood firm on their allegations.
