CANNES -- The Cannes Film Festival is still abuzz about Woody Allen.

Not because of his comedy, Hollywood Ending, which is getting mixed reviews as it did in North America.

Instead, Allen's revealing comments on relationships and age differences are still the topic of conversation. Allen, 67, was here with his wife (and former surrogate daughter), Soon-Yi Previn, 22.

Pressed for details on why he often casts himself in his movies as a man with much younger lovers, Allen said:

"Love relationships are difficult for anybody the world over at any age. Seventy-five percent of the suffering that goes on with people goes on because their love relationships either don't work or they can't meet the right person, or the person that they're with does not fulfil them...

"So, whatever happens to work, for whatever inexplicable reason in a love relationship, regardless of age or race or even gender, I mean it doesn't matter as long as the two people have a happy and fulfilling time.

"That's very rare ... Everyone struggles and finds his or her way -- and fails most of the time."


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