WOLF is bound to spark controversy (part of Dallas International Film Festival)

     
     In the film’s opening image, the central character roams aimlessly through the lush green forest; the boldness of his red shirt highlights his appearance. The visual contrast of his red shirt—the color of blood, life, lust and guilt—stands out in the natural background. Subtle echoes of a wolf, combined with an ominous, yet low-key score, cleverly alludes to the victimized prey in "little red riding hood."
     Wolf is essentially about the mental and emotional damage to an adolescent teen who was sexually abused, repeatedly, by the pastor of his church. The film was shot on a tight budget, constrained to a swift fifteen day shoot. Although the production cost was low, the writer-and-director, Ya’ke Smith, artfully captures the haunting and symbolic imagery, utilizing HD technology. The cinematography, alone, evoked a lingering aesthetic; the contrast in colors and dramatic composition of some of the dream sequences enriched the texture of the images. The Texas-native filmmaker probes the psychological depths behind the nature of a pedophile, offering empathetic insight.
     The subtext of the taunting narrative explores the ways we both blame and defend the Church-related aspect of the crime. As we dissect the controversy, should the viewer separate the religious connotation, or should we see the pastor’s sexual assaults as a representation of the hypocrisies of organized religion? Corruption in the church is quite evident, but more in depth, the filmmakers portray the humanistic cause-and-effects of sexual molestation.
     The eerie dream sequences reveal the untapped, emotional turmoil of both the pastor and his victim, Carl (Jordon Cooper). Consequently, Carl feels ambivalent about his feelings towards his predator. The pastor’s role as a substitute father and his authority in the Church lured Carl into his trap. Wolf avoids any melodramatic handling of the provocative material. The director blurs the line between good and evil. According to the film’s subtext, the pastor wasn’t born with a sexual inclination towards young boys, but more complex, a damaged product of a dysfunctional environment. Likewise, we observe and empathize with Carl’s rage and sadness; he slowly evolves into a predator himself.
     Newcomer actor Jordan Cooper paints a moving portrait of a boy’s sexual frustration and confusion. He’s unable to process his feelings, let alone, understand them. Cooper is a terrific young talent—the tears flowing down his cheeks feel real and justified. His character grows up to loath himself, and in effect, loathes others around him. Wolf won the Texas Competition Grand Jury Prize and deservedly so. I was absolutely taken in by the humanistic approach to such a disturbing subject.


***1/2 (out of four stars)