Woody Allen's 'Coup de Chance' Heads to EFM

Allen's 50th finds life in the European Film Market

Photo credit: WestEnd Films

BERLIN — Woody Allen's last movie came in the rubbish of "Rifkin's Festival," which was universally panned by both critics and audiences (per Rotten Tomatoes). Three years later, and following the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that helped to derail Allen's commitment to make a movie each and every year, the filmmaker's latest project, "Coup de chance," is heading for the European Film Market (EFM). This marks Allen's 50th feature film, and it promises to be in the same vein as some of the director's darker works like "Interiors," "Match Point" and an "Irrational Man."

"'Coup de Chance is a contemporary story of romance, passion and violence set in contemporary Paris," Allen said (via Deadline). "Shot all over the city and a little bit in the countryside, it evolves around a romance between two young people [Lou De Laâge and Niels Schneidewho] who are old friends and devolves into marital infidelity and ultimately crime. It stars very gifted French actors and actresses, is all in the French language and looks very beautiful as photographed by the great cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro. The rest I’ll leave to surprise.”

Allen made his professional name as a stand-up comic and then as a comedy writer for the "Sid Caesar Show" before beginning his nearly 60-year filmmaking career. In 1965, Allen penned the original screenplay for "What's New Pussycat," but the director and the powers-that-be butchered his script to the point that Allen contemplated giving up showbusiness.

Allen pressed on, though, once he was given complete creative control over all of his future projects beginning with "Take the Money and Run" (1969). Allen's library of successes over the decades ("Annie Hall," "Manhattan," "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Midnight in Paris") overwhelming outweigh the fewer flops produced.

WestEnd Films is handling "Coup de Chance," and it's not the company's first rodeo with Allen either. Their 16-film collaboration over the years has proved profitable for both entities with titles like "To Rome with Love" and the aforementioned "Match Point" to their credit.

And despite the swirling controversy amidst allegations Allen sexually abused his daughter Dylan Farrow, WestEnd continues to stand by the director. “We’re thrilled to continue our long-lasting collaboration with Woody Allen and his team," WestEnd Films’ managing director, Maya Amsellem, said (via Deadline). “'Coup de Chance' has all the elements of an exciting modern thriller with a stellar French cast, and we can’t wait to share it with buyers all around the world."

For those who have never seen a Woody Allen story brought to life on film, here's a list of six must-sees — three of his newer and three of his older ventures — from his long and storied movie career beginning with 2016's Café Society and ending with 1977's Oscar-winning (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress — Diane Keaton) "Annie Hall."