Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Seth Rogen’s Animated Film ‘Tangles’ Receives a Heartfelt 7-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes Premiere, Touching Lauren Miller Rogen’s Heart
Canadian director Leah Nelson’s animated feature, Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me, received a heartfelt seven-minute standing ovation during its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday evening. The packed Special Screening highlighted the film’s emotional resonance and artistic impact.
Nelson was joined on the red carpet by voice cast members Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Seth Rogen, Abbi Jacobson, and Samira Wiley, along with producers Lauren Miller Rogen, Vicky Patel, and Sarah Leavitt. The film draws inspiration from Leavitt’s graphic memoir, which recounts her experiences with her mother’s battle against Alzheimer’s disease.
Tangles portrays Leavitt’s journey as she temporarily sets aside her career as an activist and artist in 1990s San Francisco to return to her small hometown. There, she reconnects with her spirited mother as Alzheimer’s begins to erase her personality and vitality. This bittersweet narrative struck a chord with the Cannes audience, blending humor with poignant reflections on memory and loss.
The premiere was particularly emotional for Leavitt, Nelson, Miller Rogen, and Patel, all of whom have been personally affected by Alzheimer’s through family members.
“Thank you so much to all of these incredible people and thank you for being here and coming through that story with us,” Leavitt expressed with evident emotion as the applause waned.
Miller Rogen, who was deeply moved by the film, did not speak but was visibly impacted as the lights returned. Her late mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 55. She and Seth Rogen founded Hilarity for Charity in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by Alzheimer’s. Patel, who manages Monarch Media, became a prominent fundraiser for brain science research following her father’s diagnosis.
International rights for Tangles are being managed by Charades, while CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group handle domestic distribution. The film is set to make its next appearance at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June.
