Woody Allen at "Venice": A Stroke of Luck

American director Woody Allen presented his fiftieth film at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, stating to reporters that he has lived "a life in which he has been extremely lucky," without mentioning the scandals that haunted him at one point in his life. Before the premiere of his first French-speaking film ("Coup de Chance"), he told journalists, "I have only had good luck and I hope it continues." He added, "I had loving parents, kind friends, a wonderful wife, a great marriage, and two children. In a few months, I will be 88 years old. I have never been to a hospital. Nothing terrible has ever happened to me." The director of (Annie Hall) and other comedies, who has won the Oscar four times, has led a troubled personal life that has caused a growing number of celebrities and directors in Hollywood to avoid him. He made headlines in the 1990s after his affair and marriage to Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow, as well as sexual abuse allegations from their adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. He has always denied these allegations and has never been charged with any crime. Some critics condemned the Venice Film Festival for giving Allen a prestigious out-of-competition slot for his new film, but the film received a loud applause during its press screening on Monday, and the director himself was warmly welcomed at the festival. Initially, Allen wanted to cast American actors for the lead roles, but he stated that European directors have long inspired him, so he was pleased to change the language, even though he does not speak French. "Coup de Chance" draws on themes of love, infidelity, and death, similar to many of his films. Allen had previously indicated that "Coup de Chance" could be his last film. However, he mentioned on Monday that he has a good idea for a story set in his hometown of New York and will pursue it if he can find a supporter willing to accept his conditions of not reading the script or knowing his choices for the roles. He said, "If some fool agrees to that, I will make the film in New York."