Venice, Italy – Woody Allen’s latest film, “Coup de Chance,” received a three-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere on Monday night, a reaction that would have likely continued if the filmmaker hadn’t started to leave. After two minutes and 30 seconds of sustained applause following the film’s conclusion, Woody Allen began making his way towards the exit, bringing the standing ovation to a close. The filmmaker appeared visibly moved during the enthusiastic reaction and even took out a tissue at one point.
The atmosphere was electric as Woody Allen entered the theater, greeted by a standing ovation from the audience even before the movie was screened, with fans eager to capture videos of the acclaimed director. The same warm reception continued on the red carpet, where enthusiastic fans cheered him on. However, just outside the carpet, a group of protesters made their presence known. According to social media reports, the protesters removed their shirts and distributed sheets of paper calling for the festival to “turn the spotlight off of rapists.”
The note from the protesters stated, “This year, the Biennale Venice Film Festival has decided to give space to Woody Allen, Luc Besson, and Roman Polanski, three directors involved in sexual violence against women, including minors.”
In an exclusive interview with Variety prior to the film’s world premiere, Woody Allen hinted that “Coup de Chance,” his 50th feature film, might be his last, citing the challenges of securing financial backing for his projects.
“I have so many ideas for films that I would be tempted to do it if it was easy to finance,” he shared. “But beyond that, I don’t know if I have the same verve to go out and spend a lot of time raising money.”
Variety film critic Owen Gleiberman praised “Coup de Chance” in his review from Venice, describing it as Allen’s best film since “Blue Jasmine” and noting its jaunty tone of deadpan glee, accentuated by a soundtrack of ’60s and ’70s jazz standards. While not a comedy, the film captures the essence of Woody Allen’s wit and humor.
Written and directed by Allen, “Coup de Chance” is a French-language thriller in the vein of “Match Point,” revolving around a beautiful couple in Paris whose lives unravel with the arrival of a former flame. The cast includes Lou de Laage, Valerie Lemercier, Melvil Poupaud, and Niels Schneider.
As of now, “Coup de Chance” does not have U.S. distribution. The filmmaker has faced challenges in recent years with North American theatrical releases due to allegations of child molestation raised by Dylan Farrow and the #MeToo movement. The film landed French distribution through Metropolitan FilmExport and was initially rumored to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival but ultimately made its debut at the Venice Film Festival.
Woody Allen described “Coup de Chance” as a “poisonous romantic thriller,” marking his return to filmmaking after “Rifkin’s Festival” in 2020 and “A Rainy Day in New York” in 2019, both of which faced distribution challenges in the U.S.
