The Cannes Film Festival 2026 witnessed a deeply moving moment as Tangles, an animated feature produced by Seth Rogen and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Abbi Jacobson, premiered to a seven-minute standing ovation. The film, adapted from Sarah Leavitt's graphic novel memoir Tangles: A Story about Alzheimer's, My Mother and Me, uses hand-drawn animation to explore the harrowing journey of a daughter and her mother facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
In an interview with You Know Films' Alex Noyer for The Séance, the cast and crew opened up about the personal stakes behind the project. Rogen, who co-founded the Alzheimer's nonprofit Hilarity for Charity with his wife Lauren Miller Rogen, emphasized that the film's power comes from its story first. 'I would never make a film just because it supported a cause that I was passionate about,' Rogen said. 'I'm only interested in making movies that stand on their own as great films. The fact that it also happened to be about something I had personal experience with made us work even harder.'
The film follows Sarah (voiced by Jacobson) as she returns to her small conservative hometown after her mother Midge (Louis-Dreyfus) is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Through 'limitless, beautiful' hand-drawn animation, viewers witness Midge's vibrant personality slowly stripped away by the disease. Sarah must learn to embrace her family's imperfections and the cruel inevitability of the illness to become the daughter her mother needs. The cast also includes Samira Wiley, Bryan Cranston, Wanda Sykes, Pamela Adlon, and Beanie Feldstein.
Director Leah Nelson explained why animation was the ideal medium for such an emotional story. 'Animation allows us to visualize memory, loss, and love in ways live-action cannot,' she said. 'It gives us the freedom to show the internal world of both Sarah and Midge.' Leavitt, the graphic novelist, reflected on seeing her personal family story adapted to the screen, calling it 'surreal and deeply validating.'
Lauren Miller Rogen discussed the delicate balance of portraying Alzheimer's with honesty and dignity. 'We wanted to show the truth of the disease without losing hope or humanity,' she said. 'It's a heartbreaking topic, but we approached it with heart and honesty.'
For those who have followed Rogen's career, his involvement in a project about Alzheimer's is no surprise. He and Miller Rogen have been vocal advocates for research and care through Hilarity for Charity. However, Rogen stressed that Tangles is not a charity project but a great film. 'I made a movie about cancer years ago, and I saw how taking ownership of the characters and diving into sensitive subjects with care allows you to take greater creative risks,' he said. 'You're not afraid of what people will think because you've experienced it.'
Jacobson, who voices Sarah, spoke about the challenge of portraying a real person. 'Recording alongside the other actors helped bring authenticity to the performances,' she said. 'We fed off each other's emotions.' Louis-Dreyfus added that the film explores truth, denial, and emotional honesty within a family dynamic. 'It's about what happens when you can no longer deny reality,' she said.
Samira Wiley highlighted the physicality and emotional intimacy required for voice performance. 'You have to bring your whole body into the booth,' she said. 'The animation team captures every nuance.'
For audiences looking for more heartfelt stories, check out our coverage of Nick Offerman and Thaddea Graham on Filming Margo's Got Money Troubles' Most Heartbreaking Scene. And if you're interested in other Cannes highlights, read our review of Paper Tiger.
Tangles is a testament to the power of animation to tackle difficult truths. With its stellar cast and deeply personal story, it's poised to be one of the most talked-about films of the year.
