Bernheimer, Kathryn. “Annie Hall.” The 50 Greatest Jewish Movies. Secaucus, New Jersey: Carol Publishing Group, 1998. 28-33.

    In a chapter that is one in a book on the best Jewish films which exist today, Bernheimer explores Annie Hall’s characters of Annie and Alvy in terms of their ethnic conflict. She claims, first, that Annie Hall is the strongest example of a film examining the natural differences between Jews and gentiles and the ways in which these differences can inhibit a romance from advancing. This theme is Annie Hall’s main one, according to the author. Bernheimer regresses from this theme for some time to discuss the film on a less specific level. She considers what the film represents for Allen as a major player in today’s film industry: it establishes him as a serious artist and exemplifies an aesthetic shift in his work. Bernheimer then continues to discuss the main characters and their romance, bringing the religious theme back into play. Allen, she says, utilizes humor to illustrate philosophical points. Often, Allen chooses to address contrast, whether it be contrast within his own personality or contrast within Alvy’s relationship with Annie. Bernheimer attributes the majority of the conflict between the main characters, and perhaps the final reason for their failure as a couple, to their ethnic differences. She suggests that these ethnic differences have played a part in forming each of their outlooks on life. Alvy, on the one hand, suffers from anhedonia (mentioned in almost every article or chapter on the film, as it was originally the title for the film and well encompasses a general idea of it), an inability to enjoy oneself. Bernheimer argues that, while Annie has issues to work out as well, she can still enjoy the company of others and of herself. Perhaps, this major personality difference allows Annie to ironically outgrow Alvy, even though Alvy molded and cultivated Annie at the start. Bernheimer then returns to the religious theme, making an example of the scene juxtaposing a dinner between the two characters’ families - a scene which is noted in most sources as wonderfully offering the audience a display of Annie and Alvy’s ethnic differences. Bernheimer concludes by addressing Alvy’s jokes; in a distinctively Jewish manner, the character makes fun of himself while simultaneously enjoying the ability to be different. She claims that this is the main reason for Annie Hall’s success: audiences can make fun of Alvy too, while at the same time relate to him in a way that was never presented to audiences before. It is successful as a Jewish film because Woody Allen, an extremely Jewish character in his films and in life, provides us with a particular Jewish identity to explore.

    The chapter is relevant to the concept of Annie Hall’s succeeding due to a humorous exploration of cultural contrast because it addresses how the theme of religion is paramount in the characters’ lives and in the cultivation of the film as an intellectual commentary and comedic masterpiece.