Review of Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) by Fernando C — 09 Nov 2007

"Hannah and her Sisters" is the most beautiful film Woody Allen has ever made. It not only features flawless acting from the best cast he's assembled, but they count with an endlessly entertaining, perfectly knit script, which at the same time manages to be funny and quite philosophical.

Allen's view of life is shown here quite directly, as he questions the very meaning of the world, the relationships that keep us here and decides that all of this shall be beyond our comprehension forever.

How can one ever define whether God exists or not? Define love, our needs, our anguish? And in this film, Allen decides there's nothing he can do but rejoice in the exciting confusion of the world as it is.

Yes, one will never get the whole meaning of life, but why not stop for a while to enjoy the company of such a n exciting group of characters (like this one, like our family, our friends)? Yes, there will be pain, there'll be enormous suffering we won't understand.

..but what would you trade it for? The film also discusses important topics like temporary happiness (addictions, sexual passion...) and the position of the artist, and if art is really worth anything.

I would answer it does, since if art can give us such an opportunity like this one to reflect upon our lives and make it better, then it's definitely essential to the human experience. Above all, art is human.

Love, time, God, happiness, they are all human as well and contribute to this beautiful building the world is. "Hannah and he Sisters", I am quite sure, is Woody Allen at his best.