We last told you guys about The Congress pretty much a whole year ago when it was given high praises at the Cannes Film Festival, and thanks to /Film, we are coming back to let you know that the film has finally gotten a distributor, new trailer and U.S. release date.
The film is an animation/live-action hybrid but nowhere near the likes of Mary Poppins or Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Instead, it has more of a grown up Alice in Wonderland feel, only with much higher stakes. The updated film synopsis reads:
More than two decades after catapulting to stardom with The Princess Bride, an aging actress (Robin Wright, playing a version of herself) decides to take her final job: preserving her digital likeness for a future Hollywood. Through a deal brokered by her loyal, longtime agent (Harvey Keitel) and the head of Miramount Studios (Danny Huston), her alias will be controlled by the studio, and will star in any film they want with no restrictions. In return, she receives healthy compensation so she can care for her ailing son and her digitized character will stay forever young. Twenty years later, under the creative vision of the studio’s head animator (Jon Hamm), Wright’s digital double rises to immortal stardom. With her contract expiring, she is invited to take part in “The Congress” convention as she makes her comeback straight into the world of future fantasy cinema.
The Congress is loosely based on a sci-fi book by Stanislaw Lem originally titled The Futurological Congress, and is being directed by Ari Folman (Waltz with Bashir). The film is split up into two ‘sections’. The first 20 minutes of the 70 that comprise the film is live action while the remaining 50 minutes is complete animation. And the animation is spectacular. Just take a look at their updated trailer via Cinedigm:
The Congress’ release date is set for August 29th and will likely not be as wide a release as we would like, but we have to give credit where credit is due: Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, has taken on the task of bringing this wonderful film to the masses.
