![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
Words matter. This week, the United States President called a woman a “dog,” reducing her to something contemptible and sub-human. Meanwhile, in the country’s most fortunate art houses, meticulously scripted, micro-budgeted Sundance discovery “We the Animals” flips such language on its head, deploying the word “animals” not as an epithet, but a mark of uncommon empowerment as it celebrates the complicated identity of three biracial kids — brothers Manny, Joel, and Jonah — who may as well be a single alien organism: inseparable Siamese triplets fused at the hips, or some kind of rare 12-legged octopus.
Clumsy like puppies, giggly like hyenas, these three half-white, half-Puerto Rican boys seize the opportunity of Jeremiah Zagar’s stunning, semi-impressionistic film to define themselves, coming off as something more than human, not less, so much so that by the end, it seems entirely reasonable that one of these special children might sprout wings and fly away.
Clumsy like puppies, giggly like hyenas, these three half-white, half-Puerto Rican boys seize the opportunity of Jeremiah Zagar’s stunning, semi-impressionistic film to define themselves, coming off as something more than human, not less, so much so that by the end, it seems entirely reasonable that one of these special children might sprout wings and fly away.
- 8/17/2018
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The boys and their father are slumped in the back of a dying pickup truck. Minutes earlier, dad lost his job, in part because he brought the boys with him to his overnight security gig; the boss showed up, an altercation took place before the trio’s eyes, and now the truck is being towed. An eventful night, and as the father’s face makes clear, a rather devastating one. Losing the job is a crushing blow, one made all the more upsetting by happening in front of his children. He struggles to keep from crying as the boys look on, and the tow truck rumbles in the morning light. The youngest boy’s face responds to his father’s sadness, while the older two feed off of his anger. When dad slaps the side of the truck, all three follow suit. They bang and bang, the youngest shouting, “No more work!
- 8/14/2018
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
"Promise me you'll stay nine forever." The Orchard has debuted the first official trailer for an indie film titled We the Animals, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year, won the Next Innovator Award, and earned a whole bunch of acclaim and rave reviews from critics all over the world. The film sort of reminds me of Beasts of the Southern Wild, about a group of young kids who create their own worlds and live in poor conditions with their parents. The film stars Sheila Vand and Raúl Castillo as the parents, and the story focuses on one specific young boy named Jonah. He also has two other brothers, Manny and Joel, and the three of them are played by Evan Rosado, Josiah Gabriel, and Isaiah Kristian. This is an outstanding trailer for a really wonderful, special film about these kids and how they survive in tough times,...
- 6/29/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
‘We are focusing our resources on continuing to bring to market independent American films of the highest quality.’
The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea announced on Thursday (March 22) the company has acquired international rights to Sundance hits We The Animals and Blaze and will launch sales in Cannes.
Jeremiah Zagar directed We The Animals, which Cinereach and Public Record produced and will screen at the Tribeca Film Festival next month following its world premiere in Park City in January, where it won the Next Innovator Award.
Raúl Castillo, Sheila Vand, Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian, and Josiah Gabriel star in the...
The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea announced on Thursday (March 22) the company has acquired international rights to Sundance hits We The Animals and Blaze and will launch sales in Cannes.
Jeremiah Zagar directed We The Animals, which Cinereach and Public Record produced and will screen at the Tribeca Film Festival next month following its world premiere in Park City in January, where it won the Next Innovator Award.
Raúl Castillo, Sheila Vand, Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian, and Josiah Gabriel star in the...
- 3/22/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
Cinereach financed Next selection and produced with Public Record.
The Orchard has acquired North American rights to We The Animals following its recent world premiere in Sundance where it won the Next Innovator Award.
The distributor plans a theatrical release this year on Jeremiah Zagar’s coming-of-age film about three boys growing up in rural New York.
Zagar and Dan Kitrosser adapted the script from Justin Torres’ debut novel for the same name. The cast of newcomers includes Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian and Josiah Gabriel, in addition to Raúl Castillo and Sheila Vand.
Cinereach financed the film and produced with Public Record.
“With We The Animals, Jeremiah has masterfully created a dream-like backdrop for a story of personal identity and family,” Paul Davidson, The Orchard’s executive vice-president for film and TV, said. “It is a captivating, magnetic film that deserves to be seen in theaters and we are proud to be a part of making that happen...
The Orchard has acquired North American rights to We The Animals following its recent world premiere in Sundance where it won the Next Innovator Award.
The distributor plans a theatrical release this year on Jeremiah Zagar’s coming-of-age film about three boys growing up in rural New York.
Zagar and Dan Kitrosser adapted the script from Justin Torres’ debut novel for the same name. The cast of newcomers includes Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian and Josiah Gabriel, in addition to Raúl Castillo and Sheila Vand.
Cinereach financed the film and produced with Public Record.
“With We The Animals, Jeremiah has masterfully created a dream-like backdrop for a story of personal identity and family,” Paul Davidson, The Orchard’s executive vice-president for film and TV, said. “It is a captivating, magnetic film that deserves to be seen in theaters and we are proud to be a part of making that happen...
- 1/31/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Jeremiah Zagar in Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYwOTQ1NDI1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTQ2OTk4MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
A renowned documentary filmmaker known for his Oscar-shortlisted In a Dream, Jeremiah Zagar recently embarked on his first narrative feature with We the Animals, a “translation” of Justin Torres’ critically acclaimed debut novel. The film centers on three brothers—Manny (Isaiah Kristian), Joel (Josiah Gabriel) and Jonah (newcomer Evan Rosado)—who experience a volatile home life with warring parents (portrayed by Raúl Castillo and Sheila Vand). The youngest child, Jonah…...
- 1/20/2018
- Deadline
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