AllMovie

Barbara Kopple directed this documentary portrait of Woody Allen, seen traveling with friends and fellow musicians during their New Orleans jazz band's 1996 European tour. Allen's relationship with Soon Yi Previn is captured on film here, and others on the European jaunt include bandleader Eddy Davis and Allen's sister Letty Aronson. Followed by press, paparazzi, and gushing admirers, Allen returns home to face a more realistic critical assessment during "the lunch from hell" with his aged parents. Documentary filmmaker Terry Zwigoff (Crumb) was the first director on this project, but he walked off after learning he would not have final cut. Zwigoff later commented, "They were like, 'Who do you think you are -- Orson Welles?'" Produced by long-time Allen friend Jean Doumanian. Shown at the 1997 Venice Film Festival.