Melinda and Melinda

Melinda and Melinda is a 2004 film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film is set in Allen's favorite location, Manhattan, and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two story lines, one comic, one tragic. The film received a "rotten" [1] rating from film-review website Rotten Tomatoes and was a flop in North American theaters, with ticket sales were below four million dollars [2]. However, reviews on the film's release were not all poor, with some critics, particularly in the British press, hailing a return to form from Allen. As was usually the case with Allen's later films it did better outside the U.S. and Canada, and its worldwide gross was $20.1 million. [3]

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Melinda and Melinda

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:01:50

The essence of life isn't comic.

:01:52

It's tragic.

:01:54

There's nothing intrinsically funny
about the terrible facts of human existence.

:01:59

I disagree. Philosophers call it absurd
because, in the end, all you can do is laugh.

:02:04

Human aspirations
are so ludicrous and irrational.

:02:08

I mean, if the underlying reality
of our being was tragic,

:02:12

my plays would make more than yours,

:02:15

because my stories would resonate
more profoundly with the human soul.

:02:19

I mean, it's exactly because tragedy
hits on the truly painful essence of life

:02:25

that people run to my comedies for escape.

:02:28

No, no.

:02:29

Tragedy confronts. Comedy escapes.

:02:32

Look, you guys,
what are we discussing here?

:02:35

Is there a deeper reality in comedy or
tragedy? Who can make such a judgment?

:02:41

Look, let me tell you a story and you tell me,
is it material for a comedy or a tragedy?

:02:45

This happened to some people I know.

:02:47

It's a small dinner party. The hosts
are trying to impress one of their guests.

:02:51

Suddenly the doorbell rings and out of
nowhere an unexpected person shows up.

:02:55

- A man or a woman?
- A woman. I'll give you the details

:02:58

and you tell me comedy or tragedy.

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