The Wolf House (La Casa Lobo) 2018
Distributed by Kimstim, 417 13th Street #2,
Brooklyn, New York 11215
Produced by Catalina Vergara and Niles Atallah
Directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña
Streaming, 72 mins
General Adult
Colonia Dignidad; Child Abuse; Mental Health; Stop-Motion Animation
Date Entered: 06/23/2020
Reviewed by Skye M. Limón, Electronic Resources Assistant Librarian, Texas A&M University-KingsvilleThe Wolf House is social commentary on the atrocities that took place in Colonia Dignidad, a sect in Chile lead by Nazi fugitive and pedophile, Paul Schafer. Under the protection of Augusto Pinochet, the compound was used to torture and kill the dissidents of his regime as well as sexually abuse many children.
Real propaganda footage from Colonia Dignidad is used as the opening of The Wolf House. This lets the viewer know that the rumors about the colony are formed from ignorance and paints a picture of this isolated and pure community. None of this is true, which adds to the eeriness of the story and the stark change in atmosphere as the film morphs into a Grimm-like cautionary tale of a little girl named Maria who has escaped the commune and is being chased by a wolf.
There are no details about Schafer or Pinochet, but the implication of the indoctrination and the physical and mental abuse of the children in the colony are at the forefront of the story. The house Maria escapes to continually alters around her and at one point a window forms a swastika. She finds animals in the house that through her teachings turn into little blonde-haired blue-eyed children. The narration is almost whispered and adds to the horror of this dark part of Chile’s history.
This film is a surreal stop-motion animation that will appeal to film students, psychology classes, art courses, as well as history. It was filmed to appear as one continuous shot and made over many years. It combines different art techniques from painting to photography.
The Wolf House is told in Spanish and German with English subtitles. It is suitable for library collections in psychology, history, and art.
Awards:
68th Berlinale Forum Competition-Caligari Prize; Annecy Festival 2018-Jury Distinction; Future Film Festival Bologna-Special Mention of the Jury; Quito Latin American Film Festival-Best Latin American Film; FID Marseille-GNCR PRIZE Special Mention; Monterrey International Film Festival-Best International Animated Feature Film; Hollywood Film Festival-Feature Film Silver Screen Winner of Chile; L’Alternativa, Festival de Cinema Independent de Barcelona-Award: Mention of the Jury; Antofacine Festival Internacional de Cine-National Feature Film Public Award; Transcinema International Film Festival-Best Film; Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana-Mention of the Jury