The Congress

Name: The Congress
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Animation
Released: August 29, 2014
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Danny Huston, Danny Huston, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Kodi Smit-McPhee

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 50 Ratings

See All

7.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 50 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Congress

Now Playing: The Congress

Movie Details & Credits

Independent | Release Date: August 29, 2014

Starring: Danny Huston, Danny Huston, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robin Wright

Summary: 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 (DannyMore 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. [Drafthouse Films]… Expand

Director: Ari Folman

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Animation

Runtime: 122 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

IndieWire Eric Kohn

May 22, 2013

A wholly original and thoroughly surprising fusion of sensory overload and liberal philosophy bound to confuse and provoke in equal measures. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Sep 5, 2014

The film has a transcendent spookiness. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Sep 3, 2014

This potent emotional undercurrent goes a long way toward counteracting the movie’s clumsier moments, carrying us aloft to a finale that, in its strange mix of trepidation and tenderness, is truly sublime. Read full review

Tom Russo

Sep 4, 2014

Lem’s story is merely a springboard for Folman’s wildly sprawling meditations on what the advent of virtual performance means — for artistic integrity, creative spirit, celebrity culture, human identity, even our hold on reality. Read full review

Empire Dan Jolin

Aug 11, 2014

A fascinating and visually impressive intellectual helter-skelter ride, but the lack of narrative coherence lets down its promising sci-fi concepts and satire. Read full review

The Guardian Xan Brooks

May 22, 2013

The Congress contains tricks aplenty and ideas in abundance. The problem comes in herding these scattered, floating elements towards a satisfying whole. Read full review

John DeFore

Aug 28, 2014

The film is ambitious and heartfelt, with pressing concerns about the virtualization and fantasization of reality. But it’s a blunder, one interesting mostly for what it might have been. Read full review

SEE ALL 31 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

MurseMichael

Oct 6, 2014

Imagine a world where experience could be inhaled like a pharmaceutical. There would be no need for movies, because the direct experience of another life is always available - we wouldn't have to see it, we would be it. In this reality, personal identity would cease to be something stableImagine a world where experience could be inhaled like a pharmaceutical. There would be no need for movies, because the direct experience of another life is always available - we wouldn't have to see it, we would be it. In this reality, personal identity would cease to be something stable and defined; your identity could shift from moment to moment as you live unlimited possible experiences. The real world already has trouble competing with fantasy, but with this pharmaceutical, fantasy would become the reality, and how many people would truly accept their normal life if an unlimited number of experiences and adventures was always instantly available? This is the question the movie asks, and the future it terrifyingly predicts. "I am your prophet of doom" says the Robin Wright character, as she describes this future. In this way, it shares similar conceits with The Matrix, another movie built on the fact that reality is entirely a creation of the mind. But unlike The Matrix, The Congress posits that most people would happily embrace a fantastic false reality over our default one.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

analogkid280

Sep 9, 2014

Basically a 2 part act with the first one introducing the main characters and the second one showing weird interpretations of them through a purple haze. In the first act you get wonderful character building and one great monologue that would make even the most stubborn individual break downBasically a 2 part act with the first one introducing the main characters and the second one showing weird interpretations of them through a purple haze. In the first act you get wonderful character building and one great monologue that would make even the most stubborn individual break down and cry. The second act brings you the mystery as you try to figure out what is really going on in the real world while we are stuck in an insane animated sequence that is as fascinating as it is strange.

The pacing in this movie is awkward at best. The second act does seem to drag. It is also apparent that other than the great animation that there was not much left in the budget for practical effects. These shortcomings though do nothing to diminish the quality of this film. This is just so rare to get a sci-fi film that is original and unconventional these days that it is refreshing like a glass of crystal clear water in a summer afternoon. If you have the chance to see this on a larger screen then please take advantage of that before it goes away. The larger than life aspect does seem to take advantage of it. This movie has a 'Total Recall' aspect to it that will keep your friends discussing this after the movie is over.… Expand