MovieChat Forums > The Wolfpack (2015) Discussion > This was ugly

This was ugly

posted 8 years ago by jonhopper217
11 replies | jump to latest

As someone who has worked with kids for nearly 3 decades, I'm actually surprised this didn't result in some serious criminal allegations. Aside from the fact that the parents incarcerated their children, the director's manipulation and seemingly the cause of the entire family's unraveling, seemed irresponsible. While the kids are likable enough, their odd quirks and the ease at which they are manipulated by the director was quite disturbing. Of course, their acting of entire movies was impressive, but one has to wonder, if most of their footage was self shot, why weren't they dubbed co-directors? I don't view this as a documentary, as much as an exploitation film. I didn't enjoy anything other than their performances, but the pain inside these kids was taken for granted.

[–] diazaraceli 8 years ago

They did quite a bit of acting in the movie. I think they should have gotten some sort of compensation for their work. Isn't there some sort of actor's union that is supposed to protect their rights. Also, since, they already acted in a movie, shouldn't they qualify as members of the Screen Actors Guild?

[–] jonhopper217 8 years ago

I spoke to two people who claim to have some insight into the film and they both said these kids are not related, didn't grow up together and this was a hoax of epic proportion. They also said, despite the film's success, the director is being constantly harassed for doing exactly what you said, bypassing SAG rules. It will be interesting if they are indeed actors, because if they are, they might be guilty too. I didn't like the movie enough to care about compensation, but it does feel as if, there might be some serious criminal acts being ignored if this was real.

[–] diazaraceli 8 years ago

No, I think the movie is in fact true. The children look exactly like the dad. (Unfortunately, because the mom, Susanne, was a real beauty when she was young.)

The only "acting" they did was when they reenacted scenes from other movies. (Did the director get permission to do this? I mean the dialogue belonged to somebody else, she must have paid royalties for this?)

Anyways, the kids came out alright. The bond they hold as brothers is powerful. I just wish they would forgive their father. It makes me feel so sad to think about this poor immigrant man, who is so misunderstood by his children.

It would be very sad, if he died and they never got a chance to reconcile with him. A real tragedy.

Also, I think it's real sad that they don't acknowledge their Latin roots!

[–] DorsiaRes 8 years ago

"I spoke to two people who claim to have some insight into the film and they both said these kids are not related, didn't grow up together and this was a hoax of epic proportion."

The two people who spoke to sound like morons; the kids look the same (and like their parents too) and there is plenty of home movies of them as kids too.

[–] jonhopper217 8 years ago

So your expertise on why two people, that I know are in the film business, is that they look alike and there are home movies? I'm adopted and I was my dad's twin as a child. I have seen many movies with home videos of people who were playing their younger role and looked alike. Also, did you ever wonder why the video is so grainy, like that of 70's movie stock, when the video was shot within 5 years of the movie's release?

Finally, the director says she stayed neutral, but says "the kids dream was always to come to Sundance." I know adults who don't know what Sundance is. I also know that people who had never left the house in a number of years, wouldn't exactly enjoy a literal day at the beach. Try being friends with an agoraphobic. Their experiences to sunlight aren't very positive.

[–] DorsiaRes 8 years ago

A lot of the home movies were older than 5 years. It's grainy probably because they had a cheap video camera and not a new fancy digital camera, they didn't have much money. Not all of them enjoyed the beach; but it makes sense because the boys WANTED to leave, they weren't the agoraphobic ones. They heard of Sundance because they were/are obsessed with movies.

Finding 7 kids who look like 2 adults AND eachother would be quite the feat.

[–] lockon_stratos 7 years ago

How about finding 7 kids all with same skin tone, thin build, crooked teeth and long hair?

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[–] Lazaka 8 years ago

Oh wow...now you have me wondering....I have videos from 20 years ago that are better quality, *beep* Also, the World Trade Center footage from their apartment window is crystal clear. That means there is no crappy video that they own that would take lousy video footage of those kids when they were little.

I'm really torn here, I think some of them are brothers, maybe even cousins and the hippy mother is collecting welfare and homeschool money for them all.

Something doesn't pass the smell test here and I was suspicious half way through the documentary, I couldn't put my finger on it, but I will say I never doubted they were brothers, just thought they were lying.

So who are the little kids in the home videos, do you know?

Joon: "you're out of your tree" Sam: "it's not my tree" 

[–] mdelvecchio 8 years ago

for *beep* sake the brothers are clones of each other and their father. there is absolutely no doubt they are not actors faking it.

[–] Lazaka 8 years ago

I spoke to two people who claim to have some insight into the film and they both said these kids are not related, didn't grow up together and this was a hoax of epic proportion.

you know, if I didn't see footage of them when they were younger, I would believe this in a hot second!

I don't think the movie is a "hoax" but it's a bunch of bullshyte, that's for sure.

No one locks 7 kids away for 14 years and does not get arrested, I don't care if you're the POTUS. Crystal needs to come clean and just like Milli Vanilli, give that award back.

Joon: "you're out of your tree" Sam: "it's not my tree" 

[–] nkturnl 8 years ago

Girl u know it's true!