Barbara Kopple
Wild Man Blues (Woody Allen)

THE REVIEW

"Wild Man Blues" is a documentary about the musical tour that Woody Allen did in Europe in 1997, with the "New Orleans Jazz Band." A clarinet player since he was young, and above all a great lover of old American jazz, Woody invented this musical experience, surprisingly filling many theaters. According to him, not so much for the show itself, but for the worldwide fame of his character. During the journey, he was practically always accompanied by his partner Soon-Yi Previn and his sister Letty Aronson. A truly unique event, and Barbara Kopple seized the opportunity to film it, following the New York director everywhere.

"When a friend suggested making a documentary about Woody Allen's musical tour, I didn't hesitate for a moment. To me, Woody Allen is a skilled director who has managed to captivate the audience with his humor. It was wonderful to shoot this film. Woody's relationship with Soon Yi and his sister Letty, the most important people in his life, turns out to be a crucial aspect of the film. When we returned to the editing process to review the footage, we realized that the characters and the music come alive on screen. We felt that the material we collected was both funny and profound, as it documents the private world of a public figure."

Woody Allen is thus presented to us in the most diverse situations: obviously during concerts, as well as in hotel rooms, during interviews, touring cities, and on airplane journeys. It is absolutely amusing to note that the Woody Allen featured in the documentary is exactly the same character as the protagonist of his films:  anxious, paranoid, pessimistic, exceptionally funny and brilliant. It almost seems like watching a collection of snippets taken from his films rather than a documentary, with so many absurd and grotesque moments, plus the addition of his voice-over narrating anecdotes, memories, and impressions.

Among the many cities visited: London, Rome, Venice, Milan, Bologna, Paris. Particularly, the French capital is a must-stop for the director: "I have to go to Paris first, once there, I know I’m in Europe and can move on..." Then there is the beautiful Venetian stop, where the director, amidst gondola rides and restaurant meals, as soon as he arrives at the hotel, writes a note to leave for the maid, saying: "Now I give the specific instructions, so they know what to violate!" But many other moments would be worth mentioning: for instance, the very charming scene in which, from a Roman terrace, he doesn't fail to remember: "I can't look at this panorama without thinking of the opening scene of La Dolce Vita, with the helicopters flying over Rome, with the statue of Christ or the statue of Mary, or whatever it was.........". An unmissable part is the final section of the documentary, when Woody returns home and visits his parents, in a frenzy of absolutely biting dialogues.

Also from the Roman terrace, the director exclaims words that alone would suffice to describe to everyone who Woody Allen is, in a mix of melancholy and humor: "I have that kind of personality where when I'm in Europe I miss New York, and when I'm in New York I miss Europe. I don't want to be where I am at any given moment..."

In short, "Wild Man Blues" is a good way to spend an hour and a half chatting with Woody Allen, as well as a lovely travel diary filled with pleasant musical moments. I absolutely recommend it to fans of the New York director and, why not, of the good old New Orleans jazz. Perfect for spending a quiet evening at home, perhaps accompanied by a simple dinner of caviar and beer.......