Zelig

Back in the swinging 20s, a familiar face seemed to pop up at all of the best parties, in the thick of the action. The curious thing is that he always appeared to be someone different, one moment a famous actor, the next a learned doctor and, still later, the son of a jazz musician. Eventually he was referred to a hospital where it became clear that he had no intrinsic personality, instead picking up his characteristics from the greatest nearby egos. Thus was born the legend of Zelig. The only decent fact is that Zelig is able to transform himself into a reasonable copy of those around him. The general public are fascinated by this outrageous phenomenon; songs, dances and ear-muffs are all named after the man with lizard-like abilities. Amidst this hullabaloo only Dr. Eudora Fletcher seems concerned with actually curing this sick patient. Extended study indicates that Zelig evolved his abilities from a young age, the result of constantly trying to fit in.

This text is reproduced as originally written in the festival brochure and contains outdated views on society that may be perceived as offensive and problematic. As an organization committed to diversity and tolerance in society, we do not endorse the views expressed below. Reproducing the original texts is part of Film Fest Gent's broader archival vision, which seeks to authentically represent the festival's history. Do you have a question or message for our editors? Please email info@filmfestival.be.