Rifkin's Festival

Here is the rewritten text:

Mort Rifkin, a venerable film critic from New York with an discerning eye for cinematic excellence, finds himself pouring his heart out to his therapist, recounting the tumultuous events that have beset his life. His narrative takes him on a journey back in time to when he accompanied his much younger wife, Sue (who, as it happens, works as a press agent for Philippe, a celebrated French director), to the prestigious San Sebastián film festival. There, she was instrumental in promoting Philippe's latest opus, a film that Mort deemed derivative and overly sentimental, a verdict that only served to further strain his already tenuous relationship with Sue.

As Mort navigates this emotional minefield, he becomes increasingly fixated on the blossoming connection between Sue and Philippe, which threatens to supplant their marriage. His inner turmoil is mirrored in a series of vivid nightmares, each one drawing inspiration from some of cinema's most iconic masterpieces - think Citizen Kane, Breathless, Jules and Jim, A Man and a Woman, Persona, Wild Strawberries, The Exterminating Angel, and 8½.

As the festival unfolds, Mort finds himself reminiscing about his own checkered past, including his time spent teaching film at the university, when he felt intellectually stimulated and content. Alas, this nostalgic reverie is tempered by his growing awareness that Sue's affections are slowly drifting away from him, as she grows more enamored with Philippe.

In an attempt to regain her attention, Mort feigns a series of ailments, hoping to secure a medical consultation with the enigmatic Joanna "Jo" Rojas, a Spanish doctor who has spent time in New York. It is here that he discovers a kindred spirit, one whose own marriage to a temperamental artist is marked by infidelity and emotional turmoil.

As Mort and Joanna grow closer, they embark on a scenic drive through the surrounding countryside, their conversation flowing as smoothly as the rolling hills. However, their idyll is rudely interrupted when a flat tire forces them to take shelter at Joanna's home, where she discovers her husband in flagrante with one of his models.

The ensuing confrontation sends Joanna reeling, and it falls to Mort to provide some measure of comfort. Eventually, Sue confronts Mort about the state of their relationship, announcing that she has decided to leave him for Philippe. The next morning, a dejected Mort reaches out to Joanna, hoping to catch her attention before his departure from San Sebastián. While she declines his invitation, it is clear that she harbors some lingering affection for the aging film critic and doubts about the toxicity of her own marriage.

As the curtain closes on the existential dance, Mort is suddenly transported to an otherworldly chessboard, where he finds himself pitted against the ultimate adversary: Death (played by [actor name]). In a surreal nod to Ingmar Bergman's iconic 1957 masterpiece The Seventh Seal, Mort is met with a philosophical reckoning that pierces the veil of mortality. Death reveals the profound truth that human life, though fleeting and impermanent, can still be imbued with purpose and meaning. With a wry sense of humor, Death dispenses unconventional wisdom to Mort, urging him to stave off his own demise by embracing a healthier lifestyle - think exercise and wholesome eating habits over processed snacks. As the festival's final days dwindle, Mort is left to grapple with the aftershocks of this profound encounter, contemplating a radical shift in perspective that could see him return to teaching, armed with a newfound appreciation for art's fluid boundaries. Back in New York, Mort seeks guidance from his therapist, seeking clarity on the path forward and the secrets to prolonging his stay in the land of the living.