VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

US/Spain, 2008, 97 minutes, Colour.
Javier Badem, Patricia Clarkson, Penelope Cruz, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Messina.
Narrated by Christopher Evan Welch.
Directed by Woody Allen.

Towards the end of Woody Allen’s comedy of manners and morals (and lack of them), Vicki (Rebeccah Hall) tells Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) that Judy (Patricia Clarkson), the friend in whom she confided her own misgivings about her marriage was really working out her own problems. Earlier Judy had confided in Vicky, remarking that the way she told Vicki her story was just the way she had told it to her therapist.

Does it mean – probably, yes – that Woody Allen himself as writer and director is telling us the stories he tells to his therapist and is trying to work out his own problems. Since Allen made this film in his early 70s, this is a further cause for wondering.

The theme is love in its various forms.

Two American students, Vicki and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) arrive for a summer in Barcelona, Vicki, the serious one who is engaged and is working on a thesis on Catalan identity, Cristina has just finished a 12 minute film on love and is still searching, believing in passion and pain and romantic love. They are almost immediately bowled over (well, Cristina, anyway) by a charming painter, Juan Antonio, whose philosophy of life is centred in art and in in-the-moment hedonism. His attentions affect each of them in quite different ways. Vicki learns more about her passionate and impulsive side. Cristina learns a little, especially some talent in photography, but is still searching.

The other complication is Maria Elena, Juan Antonio’s passionate (no, that is an understatement) ex-wife.

Despite Woody Allen’s still not having worked out the real meaning of love and having presented us with varied experiences, some deep, some callow, there are many things to enjoy about this film. Barcelona looks marvellous as does Oviedo. He captures Spain with a mixture of the director’s and tourist’s eye. And, after the cold-blooded murders at the centre of his last three, British-based, films, it is something of a relief that here there are only Mediterranean outbursts and threats.

The acting is top-notch, although Scarlett Johannson is quite effaced by the intelligent and magnetic performance of Rebeccah Hall. Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena is electric, firing up the screen. Javier Bardem is more restrained (especially after No Country for Old Men) and quite engaging.

So, where to next as Woody Allen advances into his 70s?

1.Woody Allen’s work, his thirty-ninth film? Comedy, human nature, meaning in life, meaning in sexuality? Making the film in his early seventies?

2.Allen’s eye on Spain and Barcelona, the beauty of the city, the weather, the gaudy architecture, the art galleries, the beauty of the city itself, homes? Oviedo and its sights? Atmosphere? The use of the song, ‘Barcelona’?

3.The importance of the voice-over, the tone of voice, the information, perspective, carrying the plot?

4.The introduction to Vicky and Cristina, the explanations of their background, their studies, Vicky and her study of Catalan identity, Cristina having made the film on love, their hopes, attitude towards love and romance, Vicky as matter-of-fact and engaged, Cristina and her searching, passion?

5.Judy and Mark, their welcome, their life, hospitality, the yacht, taking them to the gallery, later? Judy dissatisfied in her marriage, the young man and his advances? Her discussions with Vicky, about love, about not being in love? The same story for her therapist? Her intervening with Juan Antonio? Why? Judy as the possible direction in which Vicky’s life would go?

6.The restaurant, Juan Antonio at the gallery and the restaurant, Cristina flirtatious? His coming to the table, talk, the proposal to go Oviedo, Vicky and her stern reaction, talk, her fiancé and his phone calls? Cristina, the attraction, deciding to go? Juan Antonio and his hedonism, life in the moment, sexuality, not ambiguous, candour? The plane ride, the hotel, seeing the sights, the reactions?

7.The meal, the drink, Cristina going to his room, wanting him to be seductive, sick, her ulcer, having to stay in bed? The later encounters, going out, moving in with Juan Antonio, wanting to contribute to his life and art?

8.Vicky and her tone, going out with him, the tour of the city, going to meet his father, his father and his unpublished poetry, his clash with the human race? Sharing ideas with Juan Antonio? His offer for the guitar performance, her being rapt, the sexual encounter in the park, its effect on her?

9.Cristina’s reaction, going out, Vicky’s encounter with Juan Antonio, explaining how hurt she was? Doug, his work, buying the house, the phone calls? Her putting him at a distance? Their idea about the wedding in Barcelona, her hesitance, his arrival, the wedding ceremony and the aftermath?

10.Maria Elena and the stories about her, the marriage, the attempt on Juan Antonio’s life? His still loving her? The bus ride, her attempt to kill herself, the arrival, her histrionics, suspicious of Cristina, Juan Antonio telling her to speak English and her Spanish outbursts? Her staying, the emotions, her painting? Playing the piano with skill? Saying that Juan Antonio stole her techniques? Cristina and her puzzle about the situation, the threesome? Maria Elena urging her to take photographs, going with her? The kiss in the darkroom, the threesome? The end, her not knowing where she should be?

11.Maria Elena, her anger, outburst, also leaving?

12.Juan Antonio and Vicky, Judy arranging the party, their discussions, pretending she had a meal with her lecturer, the meal with Juan Antonio, going to his house, the talk, Maria Elena arriving with the gun, Vicky being wounded – and her story to Doug?

13.Vicky going to Judy, the talk, Judy and her own life, her interventions? Mark as a decent type, retired, golf-playing with Doug?

14.Vicky talking to Cristina, reflecting on the situation?

15.Their going home together? What had each of them learnt?

16.Woody Allen, his age, preoccupation with sexuality, with love, the varieties of passion, problems?