[6th March 1978 Dear Comrades; I must take…]

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6th March 1978 Dear Comrades;

I must take issue with the review of Annie Hall in S.P. 89.

I am tempted to take the review line by line, so riddled is it with contradictions, but I will instead confine myself to a few general remarks.

Comrade Thompson rightly observes in her title and elsewhere that a central feature of the film is neurosis but, what she fails to observe, is that it is the central feature.

Most of Allen's work has centred on neurosis and this film must mark the present point that that work has reached.

Comrade Thompson then moves on from a recognition of neurosis as an ingredient in the film to say that the film as a whole is 'balm for neurntire and that 'it is a paradoxically calming, reassuring little film'.

Far from it: I found the film perplexing and difficult, as must Comrade Thompson if she so missed the point.

The point is this, neurosis is a product of bourgeois society. The family inbourgeois society generates neuroses which are reinforced by experiences outside the family.

Woody Allen is that neurosis personified. He now looks for a pew relationship which will be different and isolated from all his other relationships in society: a relationship in which all his fears about society and his place in it will disappear in the face of that relationship.

In this way he hopes his neurosis will disappear. Of course, no relationship seperate from the rest of society can exist, both parties, (Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in this case), have to relate to the rest of society.

All their attempts to make their solution work are doomed to failure and the failure is made all the more poignant by the fact that 'Annie' is as neurotic as 'Alvie' and is looking for exactly the same solution as he!

All neurotics internalise external problems. A problem for society becomes a neurotic problem and a search for a personal solution becomes the neurotics answer.

The point that the film rams home, (and perhaps Allen never intended this), is that such a search will be futile.

It is for this reason that many neurotics will discover that the film is far from being balm!

All Comrade Thompson's mistaken assertions about the film flow from this failure to understand neurosis.

Without an understanding of neurosis one cannot see beyond the superficiality of the film and, of course, this is what Comrade Thompson means when she says the film It also follows that if one can't understand neurosis then one can't understand any of Woody Allen's work, and that might explain some of Comrade Thompson's mrliar remarks about his earlier films.

I apologise for the necessary brevity of my remarks and hope that they are taken in the comradely spirit in which they are offered.

J.E. Brown democracy.

Such a policy is even more timely now after long periods of social democratic government than was when Trotsky wrote it in 1926 that: "The present stage in the development of the British proletariat where its overwhelming majority responds sympathetically to the speeches of the 'lefts' and supports MacDonald and power lie the right) in power not of course accidental. And it is impossible to leap over this stage. The path of the Communist Party [not of course the Stalinist mutation of later years], as the future great party of the masses, lies not only through an implacable struggle against capital's special agency in the shape of the Thomas-MacDonald clique, but also by the systematic unmasking of the left muddleheads by means of whom alone MacDonald and Thomas can maintain their positions" (Writings on Britain, p.153). that there is nothing they car. do.

It is sometimes said the the 'lefts' do not have i.: support of significant sectio:: of workers.

But so long as the gres majority remain in the: traditional organisations ar.: come into conflict with ir right wing as they have dor constantly in recent years then the role of the 'lefts. = the means of heading i independent struggle w: remain significant.

Possibilities

As workers' strugg.= develop in the next per. more and more shars. against the bureaucrac!. 1r* the possibilities of a iea break with all sections reformism are posed.

The development of = independent revolutions. party will then take place!: by the proclamation c: : necessity, but through :process of struggle withi mass organisations.

Those who are sensitive. the nature of this treat : be capable of leading * revolutionary party nares: for the overthrow of ists.

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Mednesday 15 March, 19-8