Bananas

Saw Bananas, a Woody Allen movie about an American man (Woody) who is swept up into the political shenanigans of a tiny South American banana republic.  This term, Banana Republic, refers to a nation which is being economically exploited by Western powers (in the original coining, the United Fruit Company, now known as Chiquita (but only in certain clubs and only after hours.))  In keeping with this theme, the opening scene has a sportscaster commentating on the assassination of the current leader and interviews with the fascist dictator who is replacing him.  The dictator swears they will squash the rebels.

The movie continues on like this.  It's very goofy and slightly sinister.  The film is not very political (beyond it premise) but is much more interested in absurdity and punch-lines.  Woody Allen smiles and playfully throws his food on himself many times throughout the film.  The comedy is okay, although a little understated at parts.  Some jokes are so broad they're unmissable (J Edgar Hoover shows up disguised as (and played by) a black woman) but others require a little extraction (his girlfriend remarks something about him is "missing …")

It was an alright film.  It's a little dated and a little more absurd than hilarious however.  It kept reminding me of Luis Bunuel's work although perhaps mostly through the film quality.  There's a dinner party scene where musicians mime playing instruments with no explanation.  I suppose the micro-nation is too poor to afford them and I suppose that's sort of funny.  Later on Woody Allen twirls like a ballerina to distract a policeman from his rebel friends.  I don't know if that's even supposed to be funny.  The 70s were a strange time.

I didn't really like this film.  I wasn't annoyed by it or anything, I just felt it lacked polish and dragged.  Apparently a lot of scenes were improvised which explains acts of desperation like the food throwing I mentioned.  There's a lot in it that I technically recognize as funny, but which I didn't laugh at.  Comedy is difficult to translate however and the past is a different country.  They do things differently there.