Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Woody Allen
Discussion Questions, Resources, and Viewing Guide
“Madness in Movies” Coordinated Studies
Brian Holt & JC Clapp, North Seattle Community College, 2012
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Notice the opening credits. The music is reminiscent of the 1930’s, and the credits appear
in black and white. After you’re done watching the entire film, consider why Allen may
have chosen to open the film this way. How does it set the mood or tone for the entire
film? How does the opening scene connect to the closing scene and closing credits?
As you’re watching the film, look for where you see characters exhibiting anxiety
symptoms. Are they accurate in their portrayals of anxiety symptoms? How so, or how
not? Refer to specific scenes and specific characters for examples to illustrate your
analysis.
In the opening Thanksgiving dinner scene (1.1) we are introduced to all three of the sisters
(Hannah, Holly, and Lee). What specific details in the way they are dressed, the way they
move, the way they talk and interact, etc. that indicate their personality traits? What do
we explicitly and implicitly find out about them? What is their family like? Write out a
column of information listing all of the information we discover about each sister in this
opening scene.
In scene 1.2 notice how Lee and Frederick’s apartment is furnished and decorated
compared to how Hannah’s home in the previous scene was done. The details of the
setting communicate a lot about the characters and their lives. What do you notice?
Look for ways that the characters do something to reduce their anxiety – where might
they escape, reach out to other people, self-medicate, etc. Are their methods effective?
How so or why not? Refer to specific examples.
The music plays an important part in scene 1.7 where Elliot kisses Lee. It’s the first time in
the film that the music moves from being non-diegetic to diegetic. How does the music
connect to what’s happening in this scene? Throughout the film notice how the music
bridges scenes, connects to what’s happening on the screen, and influences how the
scene is read by the audience.
Notice how the film is organized, in a series of scenes with introductions to each (black
screens with white text introducing the next scene), often with voice-overs giving us
access to a particular character’s point of view. How does this approach frame the
narrative?