Zelig

1983

79 mins

Directed by Woody Allen
97%
88%
Comedy
Award Winner

Mia Farrow stars alongside Woody Allen in his fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a 1920s... More

Mia Farrow stars alongside Woody Allen in his fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a 1920s celebrity.

An appropriately pompous narrator details the life and times of Leonard Zelig, whose overwhelming desire for conformity is manifested in his ability to take on the facial and vocal characteristics of whomever he happens to be around. He shows up at batting practice with Babe Ruth, among William Randolph Hearst's guests at San Simeon, side by side with Pope Pius at the Vatican, and peering anxiously over the shoulder of Adolf Hitler at the Nuremberg Rally. Becoming a celebrity in his own right, Zelig inspires a song, a dance craze, and a Warner Bros. biopic. Mia Farrow plays Dr. Eudora Fletcher , a psychiatrist who tries to "reach" Zelig and ultimately falls in love with him.

Less

Where to watch Zelig

We aren’t aware of any way to watch Zelig in... More the United Kingdom. If we’ve got that wrong, please contact us.

There are no available streaming platforms.

There is no screening information for this title.

Zelig | Ratings & Reviews

97_%32 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
88_%18,500 reviews
Audience score rating

"Lampooning documentary tradition by structuring the entire film as a meticulously crafted bogus docu, Woody Allen tackles some serious stuff en route."

—

Variety

"Perhaps the most complex, unusual film in an already diverse CV, it remains his most culturally and politically aware work, its relevance increasing with each passing year."

—

Time Out

"The comedy tends to the smirk-inducing rather than the laugh-out-loud, and the second half wanders somewhat, but Zelig is a strong contender for Allen's most fascinating film."

—

Time Out

"...a summation and a perfection of methods and ideas that have been turning up in all his films..."

—

The New York Times

"A masterpiece: a brilliant, even passionate historical pastiche, a superbly pregnant meditation on American society and individuality, and an eerie fantasy that will live in your dreams."

—