Woody Allen, on the housing crisis in Madrid: "I have never been a director of political causes"
The filmmaker will shoot his next film starting from next week in the Spanish capital
BarcelonaWoody Allen is in Madrid to shoot his 51st film, which he presented this Thursday in a press conference accompanied by the city's mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and the president of the Madrid community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. During the event addressed to the press, he was asked about the housing crisis, which has led to a protest encampment at Puerta del Sol in Madrid. "I am not a filmmaker of political causes. I have no knowledge of political issues. I have always made films about the relationships between people, existential and romantic stories. When I am asked questions about social or political topics, I only know what I read in the newspapers. I do not have a deeper insight into the truth of things than an ordinary person. I am not the person to ask these things. My work has never been political," replied Allen. "I live in a house in New York, but I know nothing about housing. Seriously, I am not the right person to answer. Unless there is some problem I am not aware of, one lives in a house, has their family, and that is how life goes," the filmmaker insisted.
In the same press conference at the Teatros del Canal, Allen explained that he feels "deeply" concerned about "the rise of fascism." "The world is going through a very critical phase. I have always opposed the rise of fascism in any of its forms: both in government, of course, and in the theater, with censorship, and in any other sphere," added Allen.
Woody Allen will begin filming his new movie on October 5th in various locations in Madrid and Aranjuez. Also present at the press conference were actor Peter Vives and actress Alexi Wasser, two of the stars of a film, still without a definitive title, which has a budget of 12 million euros, including a contribution of 1.5 million from the Community of Madrid, in addition to logistical support from the Madrid City Council.
The film will be the director's first in three years, since he released Coup de chance (2023) in Venice. Allen, 90, stated to The Guardian in 2023 that the process of raising funds for a film is a "headache," but that he would not turn down any offer to finance one because he still has "many ideas." The new feature film will be Allen's third production to be shot in Spain, after Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) and Rifkin's Festival (2020), set at the San Sebastian Festival. "I said I would retire, and I want to. Making movies is exhausting, but I couldn't turn down the possibility of making this film in Madrid, an exciting city," said Allen.