Tangles Premieres at Cannes with a Poignant Alzheimer's Story and Star-Studded Cast
The animated feature Tangles has premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel memoir, the film explores family, memory, and Alzheimer’s disease. Its voice cast includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Abbi Jacobson, and Samira Wiley, with Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen serving as producers. Tangles follows Sarah, a woman who returns to her small-town family after her mother, Midge, begins losing her identity to Alzheimer’s. The story blends deep emotion with sharp humour, a balance that Abbi Jacobson—who voices Sarah—praised as both moving and authentic.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus lends her voice to Midge, a role with personal resonance, as her own family has faced Alzheimer’s. Samira Wiley plays Donimo, Sarah’s love interest, and highlighted the film’s meaningful queer representation. The voice actors recorded together, a choice director Leah Nelson called crucial for capturing the story’s intimacy. Behind the scenes, producers Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen have a personal connection to the subject. Lauren’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 55, inspiring them to found Hilarity for Charity, an organisation supporting affected families.
Tangles brings a deeply personal story to the screen, blending animation with real-life struggles. The film’s Cannes debut marks a significant moment for its creators, who hope it will resonate with audiences facing similar challenges. Alzheimer’s remains a central theme, both in the narrative and the advocacy work of those involved.
