Hannah and Her Sisters is yet another delightful, light-hearted Woody Allen comedy that many critics consider among his best works. Directed by Woody Allen, the movie features an ensemble cast of veteran actors, including Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Dianne Keaton, Carrie Fisher, Barbara Hershey, and Woody Allen himself.

Like most of Allen’s films, this one includes the typical character archetypes one would expect: dysfunctional, unhappy people; a New York setting; and a web of complicated relationships. Hannah and Her Sisters tells the story of Hannah, her sisters, her husbands (both former and present), and her parents.

Hannah (Farrow) is happily married to her husband, Elliot (Caine)—or so she believes. Elliot, however, is madly in love with her sister, Lee (Hershey). Lee is stuck in a dead-end relationship with an older artist, Frederick (Max von Sydow). Elliot convinces Lee to start an affair with him. Meanwhile, Hannah’s ex-husband Mickey (Allen), a television writer and hypochondriac, believes he is dying despite receiving reassuring news from his doctor. Mickey embarks on a self-realization quest, seeking a religion to belong to, even though he is an atheist.

Hannah’s third sister, Holly (Keaton), is an unsuccessful actress who has started a catering business with her friend April (Fisher). Soon, Holly and April become rivals, competing for the same role in a Broadway show and the affections of the same man. Adding to the chaos are Hannah’s parents, who have their own set of problems. Can each of them find a way out of this tangled mess? The hilarious story, which unfolds over several Thanksgiving dinners, ultimately reaches an unexpected conclusion—one that could only come from an Allen movie. Michael Caine is at his best as Eliott, a bored husband, looking for enchantment. The rest of the cast also puts in superb performances, with Farrow playing the clueless Hannah, Hershy playing the confused Lee and Allen in his signature lost sole role.

Hannah and Her Sisters deservedly received critical acclaim and won three Academy Awards: Best Screenplay for Allen, and Best Supporting Actor Oscars for both Caine and Hershey. It is a subtle, heartwarming comedy that makes for an excellent watch.