The HBO documentation Allen v. Farrow provides a glimpse into the family dynamics of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow's marriage and children. It is a scandalous and often devastating story in which affairs and abuse leave an indelible mark on all children. Although their family expanded, the couple actually had few children together.
Of Farrow's 14 biological and adopted children, Satchel Farrow, better known as the journalist Ronan Farrow, is the only one who is biologically her and Allen's. A 2014 report by The daily beast revealed some details of Allen and Farrow's child rearing as described in the 1992 custody lawsuit between the former couple. By the time they started around 1980, Farrow already had several children: three biological sons from her marriage to André Previn, as well as three adoptive daughters (including Soon-Yi Previn, adopted by Farrow and Previn), and an adopted son, Moses Farrow, who was adopted by Mia alone .
When they first started dating, according to court documents, Allen "viewed their children as a burden". In 1984, Farrow Allen said she wanted a child together, and he agreed after "Ms. Farrow promised that the child would live with her and that Mr. Allen need not be involved in caring for or raising the child." They were initially unable to conceive, and instead Farrow adopted another child, their daughter Dylan; Allen didn't want to be Dylan's adoptive father at the time.
In 1987 the couple had their biological son Ronan, and Allen began to show a greater interest in Dylan. Despite her concerns about his interactions with Dylan, Farrow signed a contract with Allen in 1991. As described in the court documents, Allen promised not to stand in the way of Farrow's re-adoption – which she did – if Farrow would allow him to legally adopt Dylan and Moses. Farrow agreed – with the caveat that Allen "wouldn't take Dylan over for overnight stays … unless (her mother) was there". Dylan later claimed Allen sexually abused her during that time.
Allen also has two adopted children with Soon-Yi Previn, whom he married in 1997. People checked in with Farrow's children. Of their 14 children, three – Lark, Tam and Thaddeus – died. Most of their surviving children, with the exception of Ronan, Dylan, and Soon-Yi, lived relatively private lives with families of their own.
