I find Rifkin's Festival to be more self-aware than most give it credit for. The Allen-like protagonist, played by Wallace Shawn, is a pseudo-intellectual plagued by regret and the nagging sense that he’s wasted his life. Shawn’s performance isn’t traditionally strong—he often stumbles over his lines and is clearly too old to be leading such a dialogue-heavy romantic comedy—but there’s something inherently charming about him. In fact, I think his imperfections complement the film’s themes.
To me, Rifkin’s Festival feels like a reflection of Allen himself in this late stage of his career: a filmmaker going through the motions, unsure of what he’s trying to say, but still compelled to keep creating. Viewed from that angle, the film becomes fascinating—flaws and all. It has the glossy, European sheen of Allen’s later work, the soundtrack is as lovely as ever, and while the writing lacks the sharpness of his earlier scripts, the charm still lingers. It's a funny, heartfelt piece that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if its execution is a bit messy.
I find Rifkin's Festival to be more self-aware than most give it credit for. The Allen-like protagonist, played by Wallace Shawn, is a pseudo-intellectual plagued by regret and the nagging sense that he’s wasted his life. Shawn’s performance isn’t traditionally strong—he often stumbles over his lines and is clearly too old to be leading such a dialogue-heavy romantic comedy—but there’s something inherently charming about him. In fact, I think his imperfections complement the film’s themes.
To me, Rifkin’s Festival feels like a reflection of Allen himself in this late stage of his career: a filmmaker going through the motions, unsure of what he’s trying to say, but still compelled to keep creating. Viewed from that angle, the film becomes fascinating—flaws and all. It has the glossy, European sheen of Allen’s later work, the soundtrack is as lovely as ever, and while the writing lacks the sharpness of his earlier scripts, the charm still lingers. It's a funny, heartfelt piece that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if its execution is a bit messy.
