Whatever Works (2009) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A cynical marriage and its surrounding relationships transform as the characters abandon fixed social identities and pursue unconventional happiness.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

An Unlikely Domestic Beginning

A cynical intellectual reluctantly shelters a young runaway. Their differences unexpectedly develop into affection and marriage.

Key Events

• Cynical Life in New York — A cynical chess teacher lives apart from most people and teaches chess. Location: New York City
• A Stranger Needs Shelter — A young runaway arrives at the doorstep and asks to stay the night. Location: Boris's home
• Reluctant Hospitality — The reluctant host allows the young woman to remain in his home. Location: Boris's home
• Unexpected Marriage — The unlikely pair fall in love and marry despite their differences. Location: New York City

A Mother Challenges Marriage

Marietta finds her daughter and disapproves of the marriage. She begins looking for another partner to break the couple apart.

Key Events

• Marietta Finds Her Daughter — Marietta locates her daughter and says the family believed she had been kidnapped. Characters: Marietta Location: Boris's home
• A Disapproving Mother — Marietta meets the unconventional husband and becomes disappointed with the marriage. Characters: Marietta Location: Boris's home
• Lunch and Recruitment — During lunch, Marietta notices a young man interested in her daughter and decides to recruit him. Characters: Marietta Location: Restaurant
• Dinner with Leo — Leo invites Marietta to dinner, where she reveals a talent for photography. Characters: Marietta Location: Leo's home

Liberation and Manipulation

Marietta discovers photography and adopts unconventional habits while continuing to interfere in the marriage. Her planned encounters create new romantic tensions.

Key Events

• Marietta Reinvents Herself — Marietta experiments with artistic photography, exotic habits, and an open relationship involving Morgenstern. Characters: Marietta, Morgenstern Location: New York City
• Market Encounter — Marietta engineers another meeting between her daughter and the young man. Characters: Marietta Location: Outdoor market
• Marriage Defended — Her daughter recognizes the manipulation and insists that her marriage is fine. Characters: Marietta Location: Outdoor market
• A Second Planned Meeting — Marietta arranges another encounter while shopping for clothes. Characters: Marietta Location: Clothing store
• Affair Begins on the Boat — The young man draws the married woman into an affair after she admits dissatisfaction. Location: Boat

Truths After the Breakup

John returns hoping to repair the family, but the marriage collapses when the wife chooses another relationship. John also confronts his own sexuality.

Key Events

• John Returns Remorseful — John returns remorseful and hopes to restore the family. Characters: John Location: Boris's home
• Photography Exhibit — The separated family attends Marietta's photography exhibit, where John sees her transformation. Characters: Marietta, John Location: Photography exhibit
• John Meets Howard — Drinking in distress, John meets Howard and acknowledges that he is gay. Characters: John, Howard Location: Bar
• Marriage Ends — The wife tells her husband she loves someone else, and he jumps out the window. Location: Boris's home
• Hospital Encounter — The injured woman accepts an invitation to dinner as compensation for her injuries. Characters: Helena Location: Hospital

New Forms of Happiness

An accidental injury leads to a new dinner invitation. At the New Year's Eve party, the characters accept their transformed relationships and values.

Key Events

• New Year's Eve Gathering — Everyone appears at the party in new relationships and shares a transformed social circle. Characters: Marietta, Morgenstern, John, Howard, Helena Location: New Year's Eve party
• Whatever Works — The narrator breaks the fourth wall and urges the audience to find whatever enjoyment works. Location: New York City

Story Breakdown

• Cynical Domestic Setup — The story begins with isolation, intellectual arrogance, and an unexpected request for shelter.
  • Chess Teacher's Isolation — A former professor lives cynically and keeps most people at a distance.
  • Runaway Seeks Shelter — A young woman arrives at the doorstep and is reluctantly allowed to stay.
• Unexpected Marriage — The temporary shelter arrangement develops into an unlikely romantic commitment.
  • Cross-Cultural Attraction — The young woman develops feelings despite their age, cultural, and intellectual differences.
  • Unlikely Wedding — The pair fall in love and marry.
• Maternal Intervention — The mother returns and tries to undo her daughter's marriage.
  • Family Misunderstanding — The parents believed their daughter had been kidnapped after she disappeared.
  • Replacement Suitor — The mother recruits a young admirer to challenge the marriage.
• Artistic Transformation — The mother's encounter with New York life changes her identity and relationships.
  • Photography Awakening — A dinner invitation reveals her talent for artistic photography.
  • Open Relationship — She adopts unconventional habits and begins an open relationship involving Morgenstern.
• Marriage Collapse — Planned encounters become an affair while the separated father seeks reconciliation.
  • Boatboard Affair — The young admirer and the married woman kiss and begin an affair on his boat.
  • Remorseful Return — John returns hoping to reunite the family but witnesses its transformation.
• Newfound Acceptance — The characters form new relationships and accept more flexible ideas about identity and happiness.
  • John's Self-Discovery — John meets Howard in a bar and acknowledges that he is gay.
  • New Year's Harmony — The transformed group gathers at a New Year's Eve party and celebrates their new relationships.

Directed by

Woody Allen

Key Cast

• Larry David — Boris Yellnikoff
• Evan Rachel Wood — Melodie St. Ann Celestine
• Michael McKean — Joe - Boris' Friend #3
• Conleth Hill — Leo Brockman
• Patricia Clarkson — Marietta