Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11672 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-08-19
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 77 minutes

DVD Description
A powerful, "searing adult drama" examining the life of an accomplished philosophy professor teetering on the brink of self-understanding.

Special Features
1.78 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
French\German\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Mono English French German Spanish
Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu Screens
Chapter Selections
Dutch\French\Italian\Portuguese\Spanish

Synopsis
A university professor, Marion Post is experiencing a type of midlife crisis, so she rents an apartment in order to write a book. The apartment is next to a psychiatrist's office, and she inadvertently hears what transpires between the doctor and some of her patients. She becomes obsessed with the life and ongoing therapy of one woman in particular who believes that her marriage is ending. Through this patient, Marion begins to think about issues in her own life and the causes of her own unhappiness. Woody Allen's intense psychodrama, based somewhat on Ingmar Bergman's psychoanalytic masterpiece WILD STRAWBERRIES, features fabulous performances from Gena Rowlands and Gene Hackman, as well as terrific minor turns by Blythe Danner, John Houseman, and Martha Plympton.

Customer Reviews

Eminently re-watchable
This may just be my favourite Woody film, despite it having none of the trademark humour of many of his films. It will certainly be, for this viewer, among the most enduring. Even the best jokes lose their potency, after all.

The plot is suggested very well by other reviews but what I feel worth elucidating is the depth of the central character, played by Gena Rowlands. Another Woman is not worth watching for witty one liners, cunning plot twists or even for a profound revelation about some grand human theme. It is about a woman discovering another woman to the one she thought she was. It is never clear which if either she really is. She, and the viewer, is skilfully left in the depths of quandary about this.

Upon reflection - and reflection is required to get anything out of the film - the film is a device to unravel her own self-evaluations (or our expectations of a self-reliant, intellectually distinguished woman of middle age in a happy marriage). Each development serves as a moment of introspective revelation to her, from which she is forced to ask difficult questions about herself and her relationships with those was are or used to be close to her. Each gives her cause to re-evaluate herself critically. There is another woman that she could have been, or actually was without ever knowingly being.

Allen has an enviable skill in telling this sort of story. The overall intention is opaque enough for none of these moments to seem in any way contrived, unnatural or unlikely, or for their underlying purpose to ever be pinned down to one theme or message (even my considered deduction seems crude to me in suggesting there is such a simple one). The uncertainty into which the character is cast affects the viewer, as we see the film very much through her mind's eye (the film uses some staple Allen narrative tricks like dreams, dislocation of central character in time, symbolisms etc. to this effect). Much as she is unable to resolve her feelings about herself, so does the character also resist resolution in the viewers analysis.

This uncertainty and avoidance of resolution means that one can come back to the film many times without feeling that you know what happens or that the story has already been told to you. I'd be very hard pressed to even try and remember what the final scene of the film was, let alone review it in terms of how the story ended or what the 'conclusion' was. Which is why I'll continue to watch it.

"You should be the actress"
There are several aspects that make this movie excellent, including the intelligent dialogues, the psychological aspects of the narration and the fact that a complex story can be presented in only eighty minutes. These are some of the reasons why Woody Allen is considered by many to be one of the most gifted directors ever. Of course, those that usually do not like Allen's style will not find solace in this movie, but the rest of you will probably appreciate the quality of this production.

Marion Post (Rowland) is a philosophy professor who is taking a leave of absence to write a book and who has rented an apartment to be able to do this peacefully and without any interruptions. The apartment is next door to the office of a psychiatrist and she realizes that she can hear the sessions through the air vents. At first she covers the vents to prevent invading the patients' privacy, but later she hears the sad voice of a woman (Mia Farrow) after one of the cushions covering the vent moves from its place. From that moment on she is hooked and cannot help herself, so she continues eavesdropping into the sessions of the mysterious woman.

Marion starts identifying herself with some of the accounts of this woman and understands that she may actually be dissatisfied with her life too, mainly with her choice of husband and career. From that point forward the psychological aspects of the story become the central focus around which the action revolves. The dreams, memories and reality of Marion's life interact with each other, making us doubt at times if certain events are really happening or not. The final result is an interesting look at the psyche of the main character and her relationship with others.

As it is usual in Allen's movies, there are coincidences galore with chance encounters that reunite old friends and current acquaintances, but the story remains believable all the time. One of the most notable aspects of the film is the outstanding cast, with Rowland playing her role to perfection and other renowned actors and actresses adding their fair share. The performance of Gene Hackman is praiseworthy, and even though his participation is fairly brief, he leaves a lasting impression. If you have not seen any films by Woody Allen, this one is as good a place as any to start.

Woody Allen's finest
It's a shame that Woody Allen doesn't dare to make serious movies anymore. This is right up there with the best of Bergman, who has long influenced Allen's work. Everything about this film is perfect, with a sublime performance from Rowlands and Allen's masterful script which manages to be insightful, human and, despite his influences, entirely original.