While the affair has already made headlines on all tabloids, the four-part documentary series
Allen v.
Farrow
, broadcast on HBO, promises to further damage the reputation of the filmmaker.
Directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering delve into accusations of sexual abuse against Woody Allen by his daughter Dylan Farrow, as well as the relationship with his adopted daughter who became his wife, Soon-Yi Previn.
For years, Dylan Farrow, biological daughter of actress Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, has accused her father of sexually abusing him in 1992, when she was only 7 years old.
If the director has always firmly denied the facts, the documentary traces this affair under an anthology of testimonies, for some unpublished.
He also makes the link with the relationship he had with his adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn when the latter was still a minor.
Following the broadcast of the first episode on Sunday, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Prévin reacted through their lawyers, in the columns of the
Hollywood Reporter
.
“
Documentary filmmakers did not seek to know the truth
,” they explained.
Instead, they spent years collaborating with the Farrows to put together a job filled with lies.
"The two representatives also specified that Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Prévin had been approached furtively, but had conversely"
only a few days to give their version of the facts
".
The latter also denounced the commercial agreement between HBO and Ronan Farrow, brother of Dylan Farrow, who was already at the origin of a journalistic investigation into the accusations of rape against the American producer Harvey Weinstein.
“
No abuse has ever taken place.
But HBO - which has a permanent production deal and a commercial relationship with Ronan Farrow - decides to air this series anyway.
He added: "
Although this poor quality successful documentary may attract attention, it does not change the facts.
"
Internet users' reactions
It must be said that the documentary has had a significant impact since the broadcast of its first episode.
On social networks, comments are multiplying.
“I just finished the first episode of Allen v Farrow.
Distressing and heartbreaking, ”
publishes an Internet user.
“
Every story told made me angry.
I can barely communicate how that first episode made me feel and this is only the first,
”says another.
Several spectators also expressed their difficulty in viewing this first part until the end.
Activist Charlotte Clymer notably tweeted: “
I just watched the first episode.
It's very clear that this will be a phenomenal and incredibly painful series.
If you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, regardless of the number of years in therapy, please take the warning seriously.
It's hard.
"
If Woody Allen could not express as he would have liked his version of the facts in this documentary, the filmmaker published his memoirs last year, called
Apropos of Nothing
, in which he settles his accounts with his ex-wife.
Over the pages, he also accused Mia Farrow of child abuse and manipulation of their daughter Dylan.