Film Review: The Wolfpack

Going to see a film that I know little to nothing about is a rare occurrence for me, and doesn’t tend to end well. However, on this occasion it was an immensely great decision, as The Wolfpack enthralled me from the very first scene.

A debut film by Crystal Moselle, the documentary surrounds the Angulo family, particularly focusing on the 6 brothers. The film-obsessed, long haired boys are locked in and forced to stay inside their minute New York apartment by their God-like father, who believes the world is too wrong for his children to be exposed to and sees himself as a powerful ruler and can only learn about the ‘outside world’ through their passion for Hollywood films and rock music – it almost sounds surreal, yet their tale is a reality, as the film shows in such a hard-hitting way.

The film is portrayed in an oddly claustrophobic way. It’s a difficult situation to fully understand, but through the story being told by the brothers (each one even more articulate and charming than the next) their lives are painted so clearly before you, making it extremely poignant. The opening shots of New York and scenes showing you the boys looking through their window onto the city skyline, compared to the narrowness of the apartment, truly shows the scale of imprisonment the boys must have felt. This, for me, was a harrowing thought, and enticed me even more into their story.

When hearing the story, you must put all initial judgments and assumptions aside and truly listen to what each member of the family has to say about the situation, and I found the mother’s view the most fascinating. You really have to see it to believe it; I was stunned and almost unsettled during it, as it’s not an easy story to hear. However, this is a story dying be told, and told so beautifully at that, and it’s safe to say The Wolfpack is quite unforgettable.

As I am a member of the Glasgow Youth Film Festival team, I was lucky enough to meet 5 of the Angulo brothers after the screening, firstly through a Q&A alongside Crystal Moselle (which was fascinating, especially hearing it directly from them) then afterwards with the rest of the GYFF team. The brothers were incredibly amiable and chatty, asking us questions about film and showing off their appropriately Scottish flag nails. Considering we had just watched what the boys were put through, and that it had not driven them mad but made them strong, adventurous and curious about the world, was deeply moving, and touched me. The film has opened my eyes about the world we live in, and how one thing can be ordinary to one person, yet extraordinary to the next. I would recommend this documentary to everyone, and I am thankful this unbelievable story has been told.

To learn more about the Glasgow Youth Film Festival click here

Words by Anna Cowan