What is an Auteur? An auteur is usually a director who has a distinctive type of style and aesthetic to their work something that makes you go ‘I know who’s film this is.’ Think Tarantino, Spike lee, Wes Anderson.An auteur will usually write and direct their own films which allows their style to creep through every aspect of the movie.

An auteur who’s films I really like and can appreciate the artistry of is Woody Allen.  Woody Allen is a film director who makes visually striking films. You may recognise one of his films by his constant use of the golden hour to beautifully light his scenes. It’s one of the most destruct parts of his filmmaking. Every scene seems as though it has been doused in sunlight before released. This is why I believe Woody Allen to be an auteur.

Take these two stills for example, both of them have similar visual elements that make up Allen’s Auteur style. The most obvious would be the 1930s aesthetic he has to all his movies but when you break this down even further his characters are always dressed in earthy colours. The men in browns, greys, beiges with hints of orange. The women always in pastel greens, pinks, whites, creams, yellows. This instantly creates an awareness of Allen’s stylisation when it comes to his characters. Allen’s character’s are always backlight with incandescent lighting to give it that warm Hollywood feeling.

Magic in the moonlight (2014). Dir Woody Allen.

Cafe Society (2016). Dir. Woody Allen

It’s clear when watching Allen’s movies that the same characters will appear over and over again such as the ‘Naive Sceptic Jewish New Yorker’ or the ‘Quick witted dream girl’ whose only purpose is to set the protagonist on track for his goal or to fix whatever problem he’s having. It’s apparent that Allen’s old school Hollywood views are reflected in his work.

Despite his somewhat flawed character writing, it is no doubt that Allen has developed a sense of style with his filmography. The character’s are always backlit, emitting this ethereal glow that makes it feel as though you are dreaming. Allen will then drape his characters against the most beautiful of cityscape backgrounds, usually New York but more recently Los Angeles, Making his cinematography all the grander to look at.

Wonder Wheel (2017) Dir. Woody Allen

Allen often explores the same themes of Sex, Love and death. His characters are always going through some sort of inner battle with their feelings and he explores that throughout the movie with countless voiceovers and monologues. Watching his movies almost feel like reading someones personal diary. Plot changes often come in Allen’s movies via small little changes almost reflecting life perfectly. His movies could become quite boring if it wasn’t for his character’s relationships with each other.

I believe that Woody Allen should definitely be considered an auteur and a great filmmaker, even though his thinking could do with a modern update and character check. Allen’s movies are undoubtedly stunning and recognisable to anyone to watches.