VCB Accusation

Spanish novelist Alexis de Villar is accusing Woody Allen of plagiarizing his 1987 novel Goodbye Barcelona as source material for Vicky Cristina.

For the time being we'll wait for more than an accusation before taking the charge more seriously. We're also interested to hear Allen's response, if any.

It doesn't appear that Goodbye Barcelona has ever received an English translation. Allen doesn't know Spanish--it's part of his long-standing and principled conviction to never share a native language with his DP. The more on-set translators, the better. He believes that working through intermediaries gives his films an added texture and restricts his knowledge of language to English and a single nearly extinct Inuit dialect, of which he is fluent, much to the chagrin of the Alaskan Cameraman's Union. Forced to the fringes by a Brooklynite, they like to say.

Joking aside, we would be surprised if much came from Alexis de Villar's claims. If you see any further developments, please post them in the comments.