The Wolfpack (2015)
-Watched at my boyfriend’s Mom’s house on Netflix-
This is my favorite film I’ve watched all year!! I had been hearing so much buzz about this film at multiple festivals, starting at Sundance, where it won the U.S Documentary Grand Jury Prize. The Wolfpack is about a family with 6 sons, mostly in their teens, who have been confined to their Manhattan apartment their entire lives! Their parents believe the outside world is dangerous and full of bad influences. The boys are homeschooled, and learn about the world mostly through watching movies.
Right from the beginning, this film nails it. It opens with a scene of the boys reenacting Pulp Fiction, and their performances are great! This isn’t just a film about about an interesting family, they’re a talented, imaginative family to boot. The boys instantly reminded me of my dorky 14 year old brother, who also holds an endearing obsession with film and a big toothy grin. They’ve watched hundreds (or more) films, and decided to start recreating them. They watch a film over and over and handwrite all of the dialogue and actions. These boys have dreams of being out in the world, meeting girls, and making movies. You get to watch them as they begin to navigate this world, one step outside at a time. The Wolfpack has an excellent story, is shot well and gives you all the feels you need from a film-love, sadness, laughter… My boyfriend’s Mom and I both could not stop making loud exclamations. We were appalled by their parent’s (“What the hell?!”) and in awe of these boys (“Can you imagine?!”). Go cozy up on your couch and watch this film with any ‘ol beating heart. This is a film that everyone can enjoy and gain some perspective from.