Image via www.thewolfpackfilm.com

The Wolfpack

Dir.Crystal Moselle/ U.S/ Documentary/ 2015/ 80 mins

This documentary intimately immerses us in the life of the Angulo family; a family conformed by a Peruvian dad, an American mum and 7 siblings. They all live in Manhattan, and we meet the family in the film the oldest brother is reaching his almost 20 and is ready to live his life. The only inconvenience with this is that he, along with his siblings have been enclosed in a tiny apartment since they were born. They have been out and about only a few times during their lives, but always end up back in the limited universe of their flat. One way that they have discovered to break their boundaries, at least in their imagination, is by exploiting their creativity to recreate films they have been able to watch from VHS and DVD’s at home. They have spent their lives fine-tuning the science of remaking films by adapting classics of the cinema such as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. From scriptwriting to costume and props design, to the actual shooting and performances, they escape the harshness of their situation through film.

Image via www.huffingtonpost.com

This eccentric, and rather inhumane decision of setting their family to live an isolated life, in an apartment in probably the busiest and most popular spot on earth, is a decision their father took since they moved to New York after he met his wife in Peru, on the Inca Track in Machu Pichu. From there they stated how they wanted to raise their children without any influence of the ´mundane and superficial world´. The result is a family, where the sadness and frustrations of living this kind of lifestyle for years is evident in the gaze of their mum.

The guys seem to have fun and keep each other company, while their mum teaches them school subjects at home. However, as they grow older they start to clash with their father’s choices and way of life allowing arguments and dissatisfaction to come about. In short, they are ready to finally live their lives as they realized they have been living under their father’s faith and regime amidst such a limitless world all around them. And now it is time to discover that world.

Image via www.vimeo.com

This is a documentary that will bring a mix of emotions and questions while you watch it. You will try to find an explanation on why the parents decided to do such a thing, while at the same time, you kind of feel empathy for them and agree with the principles. You will envy the connection and friendship between the siblings as they live such a life full of creativity and love for each other from remaking films, but then you will also feel pity and wonder at how they will be able to re-make their actual lives, as it seems they are ready to break free.

Female filmmaker Crystal Moselle does and incredible job of researching and connecting with her subjects. This is reflected in the closeness they feel towards her as they let her in their own private space amidst such a crazy situation. She arrives in their lives at just the right time when she is able to discover this family’s enclosed life, while also witnessing the moment the teenagers are more than ready to leave. Thanks to Crystal, we are told a story that otherwise would not have been told at all.

Image via www.conexiones.digital

The Wolfpack premiered at Sundance international Film festival, and now it has stolen the heart of Australians. It has been in the official selection for the Sydney International Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival, and now it is screening commercially in Sydney. This documentary is distributed by Madman Entertainment in Australia

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