Shot on Monhegan Island and with the State House in Augusta doubling for the U.S. Capitol building, “The Congressman” will screen as a work in progress in the centerpiece slot of the 18th annual Maine International Film Festival at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Waterville Opera House, according to a MIFF news release.

The film stars Treat Williams (“Hair,” “Prince of the City”) as Maine Congressman Charlie Winship, who’s having a bad day. After being caught on video failing to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, he knocks out another House member, confronts his angry ex-wife, and faces denunciation by the media for attacking one of the most cherished patriotic symbols in America. As his life spirals out of control, Charlie embarks on a journey to the remote Maine island whose eccentric inhabitants are in the middle of a shooting war in defense of their fishing grounds.

The film was written and co-directed by Robert Mrazek, a five-term New York congressman who now lives at least half the year on Monhegan himself.

The screenplay was partly inspired by Mrazek’s admiration for the people of Monhegan and their fight to save their way of life by going to the state capitol and lobbying successfully to have their common law fishing grounds certified as their own after experiencing a “lobster war” that led to the sinking of boats and the cutting of trap lines.

According to MIFF Programming Director Ken Eisen, “The Congressman” “is a home-grown yet world class, humorous and moving film with the smell of the Maine coast that raises the important question of what it means to be an American.”

Tickets cost $12 and are available at www.miff.org. Mrazek will introduce the film and conduct a Q&A with co-director Jared Martin after the screening.

For a full MIFF schedule, visit www.miff.org.