Les métamorphoses / Se fondre dans le décor
Zelig
1983 / US / 79 min / Black and White / 35mm
Director: Woody Allen
Producer: Robert Greenhut
Executive Producer: Charles H. Joffe
Cinematography: Gordon Willis
Cast: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, John Buckwalter, Stephanie Farrow, Richard Litt
Production designer: Mel Bourne
Subtitle: Midori Sugiyama
Distributor: Park Circus
Zelig is a man who shape-shifts his appearance to blend in with the people around him, much as a chameleon does, in response to a deep psychological need to be accepted by those people. The film is a mockumentary which depicts the strange, idiosyncratic life of Zelig, who first appeared in the 20s in recorded films and testimonies.
Once he is surrounded with doctors he starts talking about medicine, and when he is at a Greek restaurant he suddenly transforms into a Greek. Also, when Zelig stands next to a fat man his stomach starts sticking out. While the technique for synthesizing the film images and the humor-filled script are excellent, behind the laughter in the film lurks the fear of isolation and the menace of Fascism, as well as human love. Making cameo appearances as intellectuals in the film’s flashback scene are Susan Sontag and Irving Howe.