Interiors is a 1978 American drama film written and directed by Woody Allen as his first non-comedic work.
Renata (Diane Keaton), Joey (Mary Beth Hurt), and Flyn (Kristin Griffith) are three adult sisters who receive the news that their parents are divorcing. Their mother, Eve (Geraldine Page), an interior designer, clings on to hope that her husband Arthur (E. G. Marshall) will change his mind and stay with her. Renata and Joey have enough to deal with, with Renata being an author going through writer's block and whose husband Frederick (Richard Jordan) feels inferior to her, and Joey struggling to find a career she enjoys with the encouragement of her boyfriend Mike (Sam Waterston). Flyn, an actress, is somewhat better-adjusted, though she's dissatisfied with the low quality of the projects she's in. Arthur later shows up with the vivacious Pearl (Maureen Stapleton), dashing Eve's hopes for good and leaving the sisters to attempt to pick up the pieces.
Tropes:
- Attempted Rape: Frederick attempts to rape Flyn, but she manages to shove him off and get away.
- Genius Burnout: Joey was apparently an extraordinary girl when she was younger (or at least, Arthur thinks so). Presently, she is struggling to figure out what she wants to do with her life; she would like to be some sort of artist, but finds she doesn't have what it takes for most of those fields and so is constantly changing jobs.
- Gold Digger: Renata and Joey warn Arthur about the possibility of Pearl being with him only for his money. Arthur dismisses their concerns. Pearl does seem to be sincere in her affection.
- High Hopes, Zero Talent: Joey is frustrated by her failed attempts at making it as an artist. Some of the other characters comment that she is someone with a lot of feelings wanting to express themselves, but she also lacks the talent to do so successfully.
- Homage: Woody Allen is a big Ingmar Bergman fanboy and this film serves as a love letter to Bergman's films. Most directly, Cries and Whispers, which is also the story of three sisters coming together in a time of strife. However, Allen stated the film was more Eugene O'Neill than Bergman.
- Minimalist Cast: Only nine characters appear in the film. There are no crowd scenes and the only other signs of life are five actors who silently portray the nucleus family in flashback sequences.
- No Full Name Given: We're never told any of the characters' surnames.
- Parental Favoritism: Renata and Joey resent each other because the former is their mother's favorite and the latter is their father's.
- Sibling Triangle: Renata's husband Frederick is attracted to her sister Flyn, though he denies it and looks down on her.
- Suicide by Sea: After being on the receiving end of a withering speech by Joey, Eve walks out into the raging sea to die. Joey nearly drowns herself in a futile attempt to save her.
- Title Drop: In Joey's speech to Eve.Joey: I think you're really too perfect to live in this world. I mean, all the beautifully furnished rooms, carefully designed interiors, everything's so controlled. There wasn't any room for any real feelings.
