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Sunday Classics: 45 years on, 'Annie Hall' perseveres as a rom-com

Despite all odds, the film remains a crucial milestone in cinema history

Annie Hall has been called many things — conceited, pretentious and even unrelatable. But as the film turns 45, it’s worth exploring how the movie pushed the envelope on what a rom-com can be. 

The film is an out-and-out New York story that follows its rather unremarkable inhabitants. The story was a reflection of Woody Allen’s relationship with his titular ex-lover. The director played a divorced comedian named Allen who couldn’t seem to fathom why his previous relationship ended.

Despite Allen’s love for unpredictable story-telling, the film managed to capture the sensitivity a modern-day romance re-telling needs. Despite the outrage against Allen (owing to his alleged misconduct), the film remains a crucial piece of cinema which made room for bigger, bolder innovations in story-telling. So, this Sunday, consider revisiting the piece for some reminiscing.