We all know of the terrible illness that is Alzheimer’s. A degenerative brain disorder that causes disorientation, mood swings, neglect, language problems and, most commonly, memory loss. It is a terrible condition that causes the loss of the human soul. Obviously, Hollywood directors and other auteurs have explored this devastating disease through almost every imaginable lens, which, in turn, has made each film feel incredibly clichéd for following the same basic narrative, no matter how accurate it is to the disease’s progression. Yet filmmaker Leah Nelson manages to make her new film, Tangles , feel fresh and new by telling it through the lens of animation. This unique difference has made the drama one of the most profound and devastating cinematic explorations of Alzheimer’s yet.
When Alzheimer’s disease begins to slowly strip away her vibrant mother, Midge (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss), Sarah (Abbi Jacobson) is forced to return to her oddball family and their small, conservative town in Maine. One which she recently escaped for a dream job in the welcoming tumult of San Francisco. She quickly realizes she must accept the cruel and warped reality of the disease, while also handling the struggles of her father (Bryan Cranston) to accept this new, harsh reality, in order to become the daughter they need.
Tangles follows the same tragic narrative that is common to all Alzheimer’s cases. Sarah notices something is wrong with her mother. After much persuasion, Midge agrees to go to the hospital, where she receives the terrible diagnosis. Then over the course of a couple of years, we watch her rapidly deteriorate and lose herself. Sarah and her family’s lives are upside down and put on hold to provide full-time care for their matriarch. Then eventually, the inevitable happens and everyone’s lives are irrevocably changed.
Adapted by Nelson, Sarah Leavitt and Trev Renney from Canadian author Leavitt’s graphic novel Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me , the film–produced by Lauren Miller Rogen and co-produced by her husband Seth Rogen–beautifully captures the source material’s distinct art style and reshapes it to fit the medium of animation. The sketch-like black-and-white visuals, mixed with small bursts of colour, make for some truly stunning imagery. But what really makes the animation so powerful is how perfectly it captures the feelings in the narrative. Every emotion, every fear, and every thought bleeds through the screen, making each frame feel deeply personal. That heartfelt connection hits hard and turns Tangles into an incredibly moving experience.
With stunning animation, a heartbreaking story, and some incredible voice performances, Tangles stands out as a true masterpiece. The film offers a raw and honest portrayal of Alzheimer’s, never shying away from the brutal reality of the disease and the emotional toll it takes. It’s relentless, devastating, and deeply tragic, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Sad and difficult in all the right ways, Tangles is absolutely worth keeping on your radar.
