Allen vs Farrow
A very good documentary about Woody Allen and the allegations of sexual abuse against him from Mia Farrow, Woody's girlfriend Back in 1992. She accused him of the sexual abuse of their then 7 year old daughter.
..but wait, there's more. Before this happened, Woody was discovered having an affair with one of Mia's other daughters who was between 15 and 17 when it started. Mia discovered the affair when her daughter, Soon-Yi, was in her first year of college. She discovered a stack of pornographic pictures of Soon-Yi in Woody's apartment. Woody never denied the affair and, in fact, ended up marrying Soon-Yi. He was 56 and she was 21. (they are still married and have 2 children together).
As for the 7 year old girl, Woody was never formally charged.
Some people believe that Mia made up the sexual abuse of her daughter after Woody left her for Soon-Yi, Mia's teenage daughter. That she made an impressionable 7 year old say what she wanted her to say to help destroy the man who jilted her after a 12 year relationship together. Others believed Mia and the child and the witnesses plus the testimony of trained psychologists and case workers. The evidence seemed overwhelming that Woody was guilty of this crime. it is widely believed that Woody used his influence as a legendary film maker to make sure that he was never indicted, but the fact remains that he was never charged with any crime.
He was never indicted on the criminal charges but did go to court in an attempt to gain sole custody of 3 of Mia's children who were formally adopted by Woody before all this began. Many people believe he only did this in an attempt to make himself look like a loving 'parent' who wanted to get the kids away from their lunatic mother.
The 4 part documentary (~4 hours total running time) is a fascinating look into the story that made headlines for years when it dragged out in courts back in the late 90s.
I was always a big Woody Allen fan, just as I was a big Michael Jackson fan. Personally, I believe Michael was a pedophile, but I still listen to his music. I also believe that Woody may have abused Mia's 7 year old daughter, but I still like his movies (some of them).
Nobody knows with certainty whether Michael or Woody did what they were accused of except for the people directly involved. The rest of us make up our minds based on what we read and see on TV. If we do believe a celebrity is guilty of a crime such as pedophilia, should we stop watching them or listening to them, or reading their books, or seeing their movies? Can we separate the art from the artist? Can we appreciate their positive contributions to the world while condemning them for their behavior in private life? It's an interesting question.
Many celebrities who publicly supported Woody when all of this was taking place have since changed their minds. Very few people in Hollywood today stand at Woody's side. If you read the papers and listen to the news, you might come to the conclusion that the entertainment industry is full of perverts, pedophiles, drug addicts, cheaters, liars, rapists, and thieves yet Woody Allen is a monster because it is fashionable in the 2020s to label people who are legally innocent or have never had charges brought against them. To convict them simply because it's the in thing to do these days. In America, the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty seems to be an outdated notion.
The documentary is very thorough and well balanced, not really leaning to either conclusion or taking anyone's side. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
A very good documentary about Woody Allen and the allegations of sexual abuse against him from Mia Farrow, Woody's girlfriend Back in 1992. She accused him of the sexual abuse of their then 7 year old daughter.
..but wait, there's more. Before this happened, Woody was discovered having an affair with one of Mia's other daughters who was between 15 and 17 when it started. Mia discovered the affair when her daughter, Soon-Yi, was in her first year of college. She discovered a stack of pornographic pictures of Soon-Yi in Woody's apartment. Woody never denied the affair and, in fact, ended up marrying Soon-Yi. He was 56 and she was 21. (they are still married and have 2 children together).
As for the 7 year old girl, Woody was never formally charged.
Some people believe that Mia made up the sexual abuse of her daughter after Woody left her for Soon-Yi, Mia's teenage daughter. That she made an impressionable 7 year old say what she wanted her to say to help destroy the man who jilted her after a 12 year relationship together. Others believed Mia and the child and the witnesses plus the testimony of trained psychologists and case workers. The evidence seemed overwhelming that Woody was guilty of this crime. it is widely believed that Woody used his influence as a legendary film maker to make sure that he was never indicted, but the fact remains that he was never charged with any crime.
He was never indicted on the criminal charges but did go to court in an attempt to gain sole custody of 3 of Mia's children who were formally adopted by Woody before all this began. Many people believe he only did this in an attempt to make himself look like a loving 'parent' who wanted to get the kids away from their lunatic mother.
The 4 part documentary (~4 hours total running time) is a fascinating look into the story that made headlines for years when it dragged out in courts back in the late 90s.
I was always a big Woody Allen fan, just as I was a big Michael Jackson fan. Personally, I believe Michael was a pedophile, but I still listen to his music. I also believe that Woody may have abused Mia's 7 year old daughter, but I still like his movies (some of them).
Nobody knows with certainty whether Michael or Woody did what they were accused of except for the people directly involved. The rest of us make up our minds based on what we read and see on TV. If we do believe a celebrity is guilty of a crime such as pedophilia, should we stop watching them or listening to them, or reading their books, or seeing their movies? Can we separate the art from the artist? Can we appreciate their positive contributions to the world while condemning them for their behavior in private life? It's an interesting question.
Many celebrities who publicly supported Woody when all of this was taking place have since changed their minds. Very few people in Hollywood today stand at Woody's side. If you read the papers and listen to the news, you might come to the conclusion that the entertainment industry is full of perverts, pedophiles, drug addicts, cheaters, liars, rapists, and thieves yet Woody Allen is a monster because it is fashionable in the 2020s to label people who are legally innocent or have never had charges brought against them. To convict them simply because it's the in thing to do these days. In America, the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty seems to be an outdated notion.
The documentary is very thorough and well balanced, not really leaning to either conclusion or taking anyone's side. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
