Woody Allen Responds to Dylan Farrow Accusation
Apologies if this has been already posted.
One thing's for certain; despite all of this, I'm not of fan of this guy's films, at all; I find them incredibly boring and narrow.
Woody Allen responds to abuse allegations
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Woody Allen Responds to Dylan Farrow Accusation
Apologies if this has been already posted.
One thing's for certain; despite all of this, I'm not of fan of this guy's films, at all; I find them incredibly boring and narrow.
^ Plus, one parent intentionally poisoning the mind of the child to hate the other parent is rather common in divorce proceedings, especially those as toxic as Woody and Mia's.
And, as Moses Farrow pointed out, there's the added angle of Mia being jealous of Woody's relationship with Soon-Yi, which was by all accounts entirely on the level. So that gives Mia even more motive to fire back at Woody by any means she thought necessary.
And, as Moses Farrow pointed out, there's the added angle of Mia being jealous of Woody's relationship with Soon-Yi, which was by all accounts entirely on the level. So that gives Mia even more motive to fire back at Woody by any means she thought necessary.
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Having read the Judge's Ruling from the 1992 case, it becomes apparent that:
1) Woody's relationship with Soon-Yi was inappropriate, and that lead to sexual relations, and eventual marriage. His relationship with Dylan was also seen as inappropriate by the judge, so who knows what could have been going on?
2) Whether he's guilty of pedophilia or not, it shows that he is a bad father, and quite the asshole, either way you go.
I was a fan of his films, but after finding out that he behaved this way toward his children (I don't get into actors private lives that much so this was all new to me), and then reading this little article, which I found interesting after reading up on the 1992 custody case, I am very disappointed in him, and have no plans to see any more of his films.
1) Woody's relationship with Soon-Yi was inappropriate, and that lead to sexual relations, and eventual marriage. His relationship with Dylan was also seen as inappropriate by the judge, so who knows what could have been going on?
2) Whether he's guilty of pedophilia or not, it shows that he is a bad father, and quite the asshole, either way you go.
I was a fan of his films, but after finding out that he behaved this way toward his children (I don't get into actors private lives that much so this was all new to me), and then reading this little article, which I found interesting after reading up on the 1992 custody case, I am very disappointed in him, and have no plans to see any more of his films.
Why was Woody and Soon-Yi's relationship inappropriate? She wasn't his adopted daughter. Just Mia's.
And as Woody pointed out, the judge seemed to have a personal grudge against him from the get-go.
And as Woody pointed out, the judge seemed to have a personal grudge against him from the get-go.
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Did you read the pdf I linked above? It explains everything quite well. As I said, I wasn't against Woody before I read that, but it clearly details major issues Woody Allen has with younger children.
First off ... for whatever trauma she received, I wish Dylan Farrow all the best in finding personal peace and wholeness and reconciliation with her childhood so that she can move on with the rest of her life.
Secondly, I've only ever seen one Woody Allen film (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which I thought was decent, but not great), so I have no inherent bias toward (or against) the man as an artist.
For the rest of us, the whole problem with this story is that no matter what, there are offsetting stories and results. The judge was critical of Allen; the impartial psychological panel exonerated him and was critical of Mia. The panel destroyed its evidence; Mia's recording of Dylan's original account of the incident was edited. Mia's loathing of Allen lends credence to her influencing her daughter to report something that didn't actually happen; Allen's relationship with Soon-Yi, and the content of some of his films lends credence to him having an unhealthy (predatory?) attitude toward young women. And so on.
It's wrong to dismiss a victim's story out of hand. So without question, Dylan Farrow has been traumatized. But then again, how does one presume any guilt or wrongdoing? Surely, Dylan is a victim. But was she a victim of a predatory and pedophiliac Allen? Or was she a victim of an angry, vindictive mother? Or some tragic combination of both? Sadly, short of either Allen or Farrow coming forward and admitting they were wrong for the past twenty-some years, Dylan (and the rest of us) will never know the actual truth.
Personally, I only hope that, someday, somehow, Dylan finds closure and peace. As for the rest ... people can make up their own minds whether or not Allen's films are worthy of consideration and critical praise. From my limited sampling, and considering the circumstances, unless there is an overwhelmingly convincing reason to do so, I have no burning desire to see any more of his work, much less offer praise.
Secondly, I've only ever seen one Woody Allen film (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which I thought was decent, but not great), so I have no inherent bias toward (or against) the man as an artist.
For the rest of us, the whole problem with this story is that no matter what, there are offsetting stories and results. The judge was critical of Allen; the impartial psychological panel exonerated him and was critical of Mia. The panel destroyed its evidence; Mia's recording of Dylan's original account of the incident was edited. Mia's loathing of Allen lends credence to her influencing her daughter to report something that didn't actually happen; Allen's relationship with Soon-Yi, and the content of some of his films lends credence to him having an unhealthy (predatory?) attitude toward young women. And so on.
It's wrong to dismiss a victim's story out of hand. So without question, Dylan Farrow has been traumatized. But then again, how does one presume any guilt or wrongdoing? Surely, Dylan is a victim. But was she a victim of a predatory and pedophiliac Allen? Or was she a victim of an angry, vindictive mother? Or some tragic combination of both? Sadly, short of either Allen or Farrow coming forward and admitting they were wrong for the past twenty-some years, Dylan (and the rest of us) will never know the actual truth.
Personally, I only hope that, someday, somehow, Dylan finds closure and peace. As for the rest ... people can make up their own minds whether or not Allen's films are worthy of consideration and critical praise. From my limited sampling, and considering the circumstances, unless there is an overwhelmingly convincing reason to do so, I have no burning desire to see any more of his work, much less offer praise.
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You don't see anything inappropriate about a 56-year-old man having a sexual relationship with his longtime girlfriend's 19-year-old daughter?
I agree with most of what Ancient Mariner said. I remember seeing only one of his films, Annie Hall, which I really enjoyed at the time. Re-watched it last year and was bored to death. I have no idea what I originally liked, other than Annie's clothes. 
And you know this how?
No, she wasn't his daughter, but he helped raise her, so it still seems creepy to me.
And you know this how?
No, she wasn't his daughter, but he helped raise her, so it still seems creepy to me.
Woody Allen clearly does not observe cultural taboos about age differences, but as long as those relationships are consensual it's none of my business. As for this case, I have not seen the actual evidence, so any opinion I were to offer would fall between speculation and gossip.
In the movie Manhattan, Woody's character dates a 17 year old, and his angry ex wife writes a book about their marriage in which he tries to run over her lesbian lover. Woody Allen's feeling about these subjects come through quite clearly in that film.
However an artist's personal life is separate from their work. If he were a pedophile I would hate him, but it wouldn't change my feeling that Annie Hall, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Purple Rose Of Cairo, Midnight In Paris, and Interiors are all spectacular films.
Same with Polanski's Chinatown, Repulsion and Pianist.
In the movie Manhattan, Woody's character dates a 17 year old, and his angry ex wife writes a book about their marriage in which he tries to run over her lesbian lover. Woody Allen's feeling about these subjects come through quite clearly in that film.
However an artist's personal life is separate from their work. If he were a pedophile I would hate him, but it wouldn't change my feeling that Annie Hall, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Purple Rose Of Cairo, Midnight In Paris, and Interiors are all spectacular films.
Same with Polanski's Chinatown, Repulsion and Pianist.
The real issue is it's a matter of he said, she said. We'll never know the truth. Is Woody Allen a creepy guy for hooking up with his wife's daughter? Hell yes. Does that automatically mean he molested his other kids? No, it doesn't.
Either way, none of this really anyone's business, especially when there's no proof of anything. I feel sorry for Dylan, because either way, one or both parents abused her in some way and she's clearly damaged by the whole experience.
Will I go see a film directed by Allen, if it looks interesting? Yes. Some of his films have been, in my opinion, very entertaining and great works of art. Would I ever be friends with the man? No. But since that's never going to be an issue, I don't care. I don't see why anyone else would care, either.
I find people's deep interest in this kind of sad. It's a matter for the family or for law enforcement.
Either way, none of this really anyone's business, especially when there's no proof of anything. I feel sorry for Dylan, because either way, one or both parents abused her in some way and she's clearly damaged by the whole experience.
Will I go see a film directed by Allen, if it looks interesting? Yes. Some of his films have been, in my opinion, very entertaining and great works of art. Would I ever be friends with the man? No. But since that's never going to be an issue, I don't care. I don't see why anyone else would care, either.
I find people's deep interest in this kind of sad. It's a matter for the family or for law enforcement.
^ Amen.
You of course cannot be faulted for thinking creepy whatever you find so, but no, he didn't "help to raise her." Her adoptive father was Andre Previn. And according to the "Findings Of Fact" section of the document posted above by J. Allen, "until 1990, [Woody Allen] had little contact with any of the Previn children [and] the least to do with Soon-Yi."
19 is considered adult, isn't it?
And we have seen even larger age differences in other couples. True, in most such cases, the younger party is older than 19, but still, 19 is considered adulthood in most cultures I'm aware of.
And as has been pointed out, Woody did not raise Soon-Yi in any way. She was already an adult by the time they started dating. Just because she was Mia's daughter had nothing to do with Woody's relationship with her.
And remember, when Woody and Soon-Yi went to adopt, their relationship was subjected to extra scrutiny by the courts, and no one found any fault with it.
But he did marry Mia which certainly made him Soon-Yi's stepfather. And that makes it creepy.
^ No, Woody and Mia never married. They never even lived together.
They were never married. But starting a sexual relationship with the 19-year-old daughter of a longtime girlfriend is creepy as hell, even if he didn't have much to do with Soon-Yi when she was a child.
Okay, I apparently misunderstood about his having helped raise her. So maybe not as creepy as I'd thought, but still a little creepy.
Hmm… I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to have sex with my mother's (hypothetical) longtime lover....
Or with my daughter's former boyfriend. Yup, definitely still a little creepy!
Hmm… I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to have sex with my mother's (hypothetical) longtime lover....
Or with my daughter's former boyfriend. Yup, definitely still a little creepy!
I was unaware of the above. I always thought that Woody had been a "parent" to Soon Yi. Still, I wouldn't have considered having a relationship with one of my ex-wife's friends so the thought of having one with her adopted child is abhorrent to me. "The heart wants what the heart wants" is a weak excuse to set aside your values.
Still, the fact that Woody got with Soon Yi does not make him a pedophile, as others have pointed out. Besides, I have a big problem with people being convicted in a real courtroom (or the courtroom of public opinion too), based on a single accuser's word, when that accuser also claims to be the victim of the crime and with no other evidence.
I hope this young woman is finally able to gain some peace with whatever happened and I hope this whole thing is dropped.
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