Applause for Woody Allen’s new movie ‘Coup de Chance’ – but also protests German tourist who damages fountain in Florence – while taking a selfie

There was applause in the cinema, but also protests in front of the building: the American director Woody Allen presented his 50th film in Venice. The comedy ‘Coup de Chance’ premiered at the film festival on Monday evening.

As the industry magazine “Hollywood Reporter” reported, a group of about 20 protesters gathered at the edge of the red carpet as Allen walked on it. The group yelled, “No spotlight for raping directors!” The background to previous allegations of abuse against Allen.

His adopted daughter Dylan Farrow accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was seven. Allen has always dismissed the allegations, a court largely agreed with him decades ago.

However, in the cinema “Coup de Chance” received a lot of applause. In the comedy, Allen has once again taken on a dialogue-heavy relationship story. Much of what is known from the 87-year-old’s work resurfaces: neurotic characters from the artistic milieu, ironic humor and jazz music.

‘Coup de Chance’ takes place in Paris. At first glance, Fanny (Lou de Laâge) and Jean (Melvil Poupaud) have a great marriage. But then Fanny runs into her school friend Alain (Niels Schneider) again and things get complicated.

French is spoken in the film. Allen said in Venice that his decision to film in France and in French stemmed from his lifelong love of European cinema: “When I was younger, the films that impressed us the most were when we all started to become filmmakers, European cinema, all French films, Italian films, Swedish films. We all wanted to make films like the Europeans.” (sda/dpa)