BEIJING, Sept. 4 -- How far would you go to get rich quick or clear a mountain of debt?

That is the question Woody Allen asks in his dark new movie "Cassandra's Dream," starring Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as working class London brothers desperate to get ahead in life.

"It's simply a story of some very nice young people who get caught up, because of their weaknesses and because of their ambitions, in a tragic situation that they bring upon themselves," Allen told reporters in Venice, where his picture is being presented at the annual film festival.

The Oscar-winning U.S. director returns to the theme of ruthless ambition and moral ambiguity which he explored in his 2005 film "Match Point," and said "Cassandra's Dream" reflected his view of life as a "tremendously tragic event."

"I've always felt that life itself, and this is no brilliant observation, is a tremendously tragic event, I mean a real mess," a distinctly downbeat Allen explained.

"I do have a bleak, pessimistic view of life and man's fate, the human condition, but I do feel there are some extremely amusing oases in that morass," the 71-year-old added.

"Cassandra's Dream" tells the story of brothers Ian (McGregor) and Terry (Farrell) and the fateful day they make a pact with their rich uncle, played by Tom Wilkinson.

Ian is an ambitious charmer who falls in love with a beautiful young actress and dreams of a better life in Los Angeles, while Terry has a gambling habit that gets out of control, fuelling his drinking and drug addiction.

Irish-born Farrell, star of "Miami Vice" and "Alexander," said being cast as a frail and vulnerable character racked with guilt was a refreshing change from action hero roles for which he is best known.

McGregor said Allen's direction was quicker, less deliberate than other filmmakers he had worked with, relying on fewer takes for each scene and demanding extensive preparation.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)