MovieChat Forums > Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Discussion > Hannah's children, a question?

Hannah's children, a question?

posted 16 years ago by SweaterCannons
5 replies | jump to latest

This is one of my favorite Woody Allen movies, and I have seen it several times over the years. If I ever noticed it before, I had forgotten about it, but in the movie, Mickey brings birthday presents over to their twins. Later in the movie, at the dinner table scene where Elliot (Michael Caine's character) picks a fight with Hannah, there are two additional, older children, who are talking about an underwater camera. Part of the argument is about Hannah and Elliot having children. He says, "You already have four." And she replies, "But I want one with you."

Have I somehow just completely missed the explanation of who the father is of the two older children?
Incidentally, they are played by Moses Farrow, adopted son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, and Daisy Previn, adopted daughter of Mia and Andre Previn. Another adopted child of Mia and Previn's is in a Thanksgiving scene, per the credits here.

It really is just the most wonderful movie. Great, well-written characters.

[–] franzkabuki 16 years ago

It´s not explained, but obviously they´re not Caine´s nor Allen´s - the story thread was left hanging at the point where they asked that Allen´s friend to "contribute" since Allen couldn´t father children himself.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] paleolith 15 years ago

As said, it's not explained, or at least I didn't catch an explanation. But I don't think it's impossible that they were intended to be Elliot's children from a previous marriage. When Elliot says to Hannah "you already have four", he's obviously including two who were ... well, I don't think we're even told whether they are adopted or if the artificial insemination eventually got done. The point is that Elliot is using "your children" in a broad sense, so if Hannah has adopted Elliot's children from a previous marriage, he would consider them "hers".

It's then Hannah who makes the narrower interpretation of my/your/our children.

Edward

[–] denise-335 14 years ago

The two older children are Asian looking, so I think it's implied that they're adopted. Of course, Hannah could have been married to someone before Mickey who was Asian, but it's never mentioned. Then later, Hannah says something to Elliot about Lee knowing of a conversation they had about adoption, so that adds a little more credibility to this theory.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nrangerseven 10 years ago

Wow. The fact that Farrow has a bunch of adopted Asian children is common knowledge. Why can't that be written into the film without you understanding it? Are you not aware that Woody Allen wrote the script? Do you not think he throws personal items into his films? Did the whole part about Holly writing about her sister's personal life fly over your head too?

It was made perfectly clear that Allen's character couldn't have kids. Do you really need it spelled out for you that the other two were adopted? Come on...

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.