“You were supposed to look for us.”
A unique film in nearly every capacity, Jeremiah Zagar’s We the Animals offers up a specific yet universal coming-of-age tale that showcases a young child’s yearning for acceptance, love and understanding in the volatile home that has become his world.
Grounded by three stellar performances by three young, first time actors, We the Animals tears at your heartstrings as you watch a father rip apart and mend his family time and time again, showcasing a love for them all, but often succumbing to an unpredictability that will leave you in a state of pure bewilderment as you question his intentions, his interests and his overall capacity to love.
While the two eldest boys begin to take on a version of their father, the story gravitates towards that of Evan Rosado’s Jonah. More sensitive and fragile than his two brothers, Jonah finds himself sheltered and protected by his mother. It is this sense of safety within the home that allows him to fully embrace an imagined world - one that we get to enter through entries in his private journal, one he keeps tucked away, hidden under his bed.
Based on Justin Torres’ popular novel by the same name, We the Animals takes the less is more model and runs with it. Utilizing character interaction and facial expressions to do most of the talking, the final product reads more like a documentary than a narrative. This shouldn’t be too surprising given Zagar’s history within the genre; however, this film’s lack of plot structure ultimately proves its most important asset. The free flowing demeanor in which the story is presented keeps the viewer engaged, triggering their imagination and requiring them to slowly piece together the puzzle as to just where this all too familiar family is headed.
Torres’ characters, adapted beautifully by Zagar and co-screenwriter Daniel Kitrosser, gives the film its honest and heartfelt soul. Layers of complexity comprise each of the five members of our leading family, and their minor interactions with those outside of their core home makes their chemistry all the more important. Five beautifully rich and authentic performances help each of them become relatable and personable - a feat worth praising given the vast personality differences they each show.
The film, in all its glory, is not an easy watch. Disturbing scenes, both involving animation and real life depictions, pop up from time to time, and you have to be mentally engaged to gather the full experience. Like many of Zagar’s previous works, he is looking to make an impact with We the Animals - though the film isn’t perfect, it is good enough to do that.
