THE CONGRESS

From Israeli writer/director Ari Folman comes The Congress, a live-action/animated science-fiction/fantasy which will mesmerize and perplex audiences.

Robin Wright delivers a powerful performance playing a fictionalized version of herself, as an aging and washed-up actress who sells the film rights to her digital image to a major film studio.

Twenty years later she returns to Abrahama City, an animated zone which resembles a looney tunes playground to re-negotiate her contract and stages a comeback.

The live action sequences are riveting and the old-school animation is dazzling, but the film falters in the second half where complexities in imagery and messy storytelling lead to confusion and frustration.

The Congress takes a satirical look at Hollywood, the ruthless studio executives, the agents and the Hollywood machine which spits out aging actresses. The startling depiction of the future restructure of Hollywood is also apparent, where computer imaging replaces actors. (MMo)

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By Mark Morellini