Director
Woody Allen
Leading Actors/Actresses
Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg
Genre
Comedy-Drama
Language
English
Awards
2014 Winner, Academy Awards Oscar for Best Actress and Nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Hawkins, Best Original Screenplay
Date of Release
July 26, 2013
Producer
Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Edward Walson
Setting and Context
Present-day, New York City and San Francisco
Narrator and Point of View
Jasmine Francis narrates the plot from a first-person perspective.
Tone and Mood
Depressed, Overwhelmed, Angry, and Funny
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Jasmine Francis, while the antagonist is the late husband Hal Francis.
Major Conflict
The financial ruin and public disgrace of Francises thrust Jasmine into a mental breakdown that only goes on a downward spiral. Attempts to put her life back on track fail miserably with her substance abuse and failing relationships taking a toll on her health.
Climax
The climax of the film occurs when Dwight breaks up with Jasmine in the car after finding out about her past, which she had concealed.
Foreshadowing
The opening scene with Jasmine on a public bench foreshadows the nervous breakdown that will worsen with time.
Understatement
Throughout the mental ordeal, Jasmine understates the magnitude of her financial hardship, mental stability, and the damage Hal did.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Allen works with uninterrupted shots and long takes that give a touch of realism that his films are usually known for.
Allusions
The film refers to the financial crises of the 21st century with allusions to the Madoff scandal and the 2008 Great Recession.
Paradox
Jasmine views herself as one of the victims of her husband’s crooked ways and financial ruin yet fails to see her role in the downfall.
Parallelism
While the film parallels the lifestyles of the upper-middle class with that of blue-collar America, it also briefly counterparts the lives of Jasmine and her stepson Danny.
