We the Animals

We the Animals, dir. Jeremiah Zagar, 2018 USA, 94 minutes 💖
Friday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. Victoria

We the Animals

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Justin Torres. Jonah (Evan Rosado, pictured), just turned 10, lives in upstate New York with his mom, dad (Raúl Castillo, pictured), and two older brothers. The boys roam around town and the woods around their house, occasionally getting into mis­chief. Jonah also has a secret notebook in which he sketches an imaginative fantasy world in pen and colored pencil. His parents’ arguments turn violent, casting baleful shadows on what initially seemed a halcyon childhood. He connects with the neighbor’s grandson, a 14-year-old boy who seems to share with Jonah a lack of affinity for the macho, heteronormative world around them, particularly embodied by Jonah’s father.

Review: We the Animals is a rare gem of a coming-of-age drama, captivating from begin­ning to end. Although told from the perspective of the 10-year-old protagonist, it explores themes well beyond that age. It is sympathetic but not sentimental, presenting Jonah’s life much as he sees it himself. Beautiful performances and cinematography, with an evocative but not intrusive sound track, definitely a MUST SEE.

• IMDb • in theatres August 10, 2018!