The Wolfpack sounds like an intriguing narrative film from the description. The Angulo brothers have spent most of their lives locked away in a small Lower East Side apartment with their parents and sister. Absent from society, they find solace in films, the only way they can learn about the outside world.
Somehow these strange and unique circumstances are completely factual. The Wolfpack chronicles the history and lives of the Angulo brothers as we discover how they became so isolated, the effects it had on them, and how that isolation has changed over the years. It's a hefty subject to tackle in 89 minutes, and one that leaves you wanting more information. Many of the heavier topics (Why did their father keep them locked in? What did neighbors think of all this? Are the kids really as easygoing as they seem?) are glossed over for more hopeful and uplifting bits about their homemade movies and brotherly bonds. You can't help but get uneasy as you watch how these young men have developed. They become so attached to films that they often re-enact them, making their own elaborate costumes and writing down the script. They all look similar - rail thin with straight black hair down to their waists, all wearing mismatched baggy clothes. As the film progresses, we get more access to their parents. Their mom is a former hippie and their dad the Peruvian man she met while abroad. As much as they try to explain why they've isolated their kids, it becomes increasingly clear that their father has intense control issues not only over his kids but over his wife as well.
As the brothers grow into young men, the oldest realizes just what's happening and tries to break free of it. In time, they all develop more freedom by simply not letting their dad get away with controlling them. The film ends on a hopeful note as the boys have more freedom to explore their personalities and interests outside of their apartment. It's a fascinating topic and one that could be mined much further than Moselle dared. Plenty of darker issues lurk beneath the surface but are never explored. It feels as if Moselle has left these issues unexplored as a courtesy to the brothers "“ it's clear she has a close relationship with her subjects. Unfortunately, it leaves the documentary lacking. Thankfully, the subjects themselves are so unique that the Angulo brothers are worth getting to know, if only to satisfy your curiosity.
