DRAMATIZING SARTREAN BAD FAITH AND HEIDEGGERIAN AUTHENTICITY: AN ANALYSIS OF CONTRASTING POSITIONS IN RELATION TO THESE IDEAS IN THREE FILM NARRATIVES—SHADOWS AND FOG, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS AND MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT

Woody Allen is a well-recognized name in the filmmaking world and his films have garnered considerable critical attention. He is known for writing and directing entertaining and philosophical films. A particular brand of philosophy which is called existentialism is associated with his works. This paper is meant to be a study of this aspect of his work in relation to the idea of magic. Magic has featured in quite a few of his films and while its presence has been noted, its importance in relation to existentialism within his work has not always been studied. There are two central concepts discussed here and these are bad faith and authenticity, which have been propounded by two existentialist thinkers—Jean Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger. This paper will probe the manner in which all these ideas are combined into a filmic narrative framework by Allen. Three films have been selected since they are very pertinent to the discussion at hand and also because they have not always been viewed in the way that this paper presents. There is an ambiguity regarding Allen's own position in relation to these specific thinkers' ideas. This paper will highlight the manner in which such an ambiguity arises in these films as well as showcase Allen as a serious dramatist in his own right.