imperfection is perfection
Sporadic film reviews by a wanna-be filmmaker
THE WOLFPACK [2015]
Directed by Crystal Moselle
Starring Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo, Krsna Angulo, Mukunda Angulo, Narayana Angulo,
One of the most moving documentaries I have ever witnessed, The Wolfpack follows a group of young people who have lived a sheltered life – to put it lightly. Rarely let outside of their house, situated in New York City, the world of film became a new realm for them to disappear into as they didn’t know the world outside. Their enthusiasm for film is infectious despite the conditions that caused them become so interested in the medium.
It is at times heartwarming to hear the very candid interviews given by the children, but the story is ultimately heartbreaking as we hear how little they have been able to explore the outside world. We also hear a lot from the mother, but not much from the father, who seems to have their mother under his thumb while at the same time having made the decision to lock his kids inside their house, with rare chances to explore the outside world. Hearing one of his children describe their father as a warden and their house as a prison is hard to watch, but one can’t help but admire these kids as they re-enact scenes from their favourite movies and in general have a positive attitude towards life. Despite the dark situation, they for the most part have smiles on their faces. Having been home-schooled, they don’t have any friends, and only have each other
During the documentary at one point we see them go outside as a group for the first time, and we feel their excitement. We feel their joy as they see a film in a cinema for the first time in their lives, and after so much time admiring film from inside their house, one can only guess the feelings they must have experienced after seeing the movie. At another point in their first trip outside together, after picking an apple from a tree, one of them comments that it is the best apple he has ever tasted.
I’m lost for words, I can’t think of much more to write about this incredible film. All I can say is that this is a documentary like no other, and could move the most emotionally stunted person. The dark ambient/post-rock/chamber-rock soundtrack is very apt as we learn more about their lives growing up, and see the hatred one of them begins to feel towards their father for locking them up like he did.
Go stream this now, you will not regret it. It is a short film that clocks in at around 90 minutes, but it barely feels an hour long as the subject matter is so visceral and emotional. This is a documentary that every person needs to see.
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31 Comments on “THE WOLFPACK [2015]”
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imperfection is perfection 
I keep seeing trailers for this and it looks very interesting; yours is the first review I’ve read. I may not see it on the big screen here but will definitely stream it. What a fucked up situation.
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Too true. A fucked up situation indeed. The director was the first visitor ever let into the house. Its crazy
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Wow. What makes it even weirder is the fact it happened in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world. Or maybe that shouldn’t be surprising!
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Indeed!! Although cos the kids were younger, they could have been in a NYC with twice the population and no one would have noticed the situation. Their father had the only key to the front door, even their mother was a type of prisoner. Crazy situation, but it makes for a incredibly moving doco
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I’m so happy you reviewed this Jordan. One of our tv news magazines profiled the brothers a couple of months ago and their story instantly captivated me. I’m just waiting for it to come out on dvd. š
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I have never been so affected by a doco before. It is an amazing yet heartbreaking story
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Just the newscast made me tear up! And when they meet Robert De Niro? Priceless!
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I don’t think that part was in was in the doco. I don’t remember it anyways, That really would have been priceless
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It was really cute!
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It must have been!! I guess that happened after the filming finished. But even without that, its such a powerful film. It barely felt an hour long!
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Yeah, this sounded pretty interesting. Might give it a go at some point.
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It really is bloody amazing. I was left speechless by the end. I wanted more!!
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Amazing write-up Jordan. Can’t wait to see this one, what a disturbing situation these kids were in.
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Thanks for reading Anna! š Yes, a disturbing situation indeed. makes for one helluva doco but still, to know that these kids really went through this… its powerful stuff
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I’ve heard so much good stuff about this movie.
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Its bloody great man!! Such a unique situation
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If you say it’s bloody great, it must be.
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š It is, i’ve never seen a doco that was so moving. Definitely check it out
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I gotta start watching more documentaries.
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they can certainly be very good when done right. In this case, it was hard to go wrong with such a unique and intriguing story
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I just saw the trailer the other day and it was surely intriguing. I definitely will rent this one Jordan, sounds quite amusing as well given the pop culture references.
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Its definitely different!! There are youtube videos of them now, a whole bunch of them traveled to LA. Was really cool to watch!
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The Wolfpack is a documentary I’ve been meaning to check out.The movie reenactments look like fun, and those guys having such a different upbringing is intriguing. That you say it’s so moving really makes me want to see it soon.
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Its worth it! š
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This sounds fascinating. Hope I can catch it on rental soon.
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I hope you do! They are a unique group of kids, no doubt
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A fantastic piece here. Sorry I missed it when you first published. I saw this fairly recently myself (I think December) and I agree — very moving, intriguing look into an extreme and unusual (let’s just call it extremely unusual) family situation. I also like how you point out that even despite these horrible upbringings, the kids are seen with smiles on their faces every now and then, and when you listen to them interview, they seem like completely normal, well-adjusted young men. Remarkable given that their father has all but denied them a proper childhood. Utterly ridiculous isn’t it?
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No need to apologise mate! š There are so many great blogs out there it is hard to keep up with them all!
It certainly is remarkable. I highly recommend you check them out on Youtube, there is a clip of them exploring Hollywood, having an absolute blast. Its so great that a documentary can affect the lives of an entire family so profoundly, which this certainly did.
And i liked that they didn’t focus too much on what the father was like, the story was in these kids and how amazing they were coping with the situation. One has to wonder though, is what he did against some sort of law? A truly repugnant way to treat your family.
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