IN A DREAM

IN A DREAM

    Price: $310.00

    Code: 2336

    Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
    2008, 80 minutes
    Purchase: $310 Classroom Rental: $125


    In the vibrant, bohemian neighborhood of South Philadelphia, 50,000-square feet of concrete are covered with tile and mirrors—mosaics that were created by Isaiah Zagar, an eccentric, tormented artist.

    The murals chronicle his love for his wife, Julia, and subtly hint at the darker corners of an extraordinary imagination. Where Isaiah is obsessive and narcissistic—a former Peace Corps volunteer who has become an icon in South Philly's art community—Julia is gracious and warm. For decades, their opposing natures complemented one another perfectly. But suddenly the family is torn apart at the seams: A few hours before picking up his oldest son from a rehabilitation center, Isaiah declares to the camera, "As people get older they have less and less passion." He then confesses to an affair with his assistant, is kicked out of the house, and spirals into a debilitating, suicidal depression.

    In a Dream is a loving, but unsparing psychological portrait of an artist, of the artistic process and mental illness.

    Subjects & Collections



    Festivals & Awards

    * Winner, Emerging Visions Audience Award, South by Southwest Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Audience Award, San Francisco International Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award, Full Frame Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Best Documentary, Woodstock Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Best First Film, Philadelphia Film Festival, 2008



    Reviews

    "Bursting with vivid home movies and loving appreciations of Isaiah’s artwork — frenzied drawings and monumental mosaics in tile and mirror, many of which now beautify his Philadelphia neighborhood — In a Dream abounds in visual pleasure." - The New York Times

    "A stunning, deeply personal documentary portrait. Mixing old home movies, wonderful animated sequences derived from Isaiah's art, and scenes of Isaiah at work, of Julia in agony, and of their eldest son, Zeke, grappling with his own demons, In a Dream captures a family imploding. Their lives are laid bare, in broken bits, like the ceramic that Isaiah uses for his art, and they come together in In a Dream with sadness and beauty, rage and insight." – Philadelphia Inquirer

    "As a story about art and artists, In a Dream is soft-spoken, well-paced, and smoothly engrossing. As a portrait of a sweet but slightly fractured man, it's one of the most unexpectedly touching documentaries I've ever seen." – Cinematical

    Trailer


    Related Films

    ALMOST THERE
    ALMOST THERE
    Humorous and candid, Kartemquin Films' documentary Almost There is a fascinating portrait of eccentric "outsider" artist Peter Anton. Living in a home that has been consumed by mold and filth, the octogenarian has produced a startling collection of unseen paintings, drawings, and notebooks. The film’s remarkable journey follows this witty and gifted artist through startling twists and turns.

    MARWENCOL
    MARWENCOL
    Winner of multiple awards, Marwencol explores the real and imaginary worlds of Mark Hogancamp, who, as therapy for a vicious attack, built a 1/6th scale WWII-era town in his backyard populated with dolls that enact epic stories of violence, longing and revenge.

    WHAT’S UNDER YOUR HAT?
    WHAT’S UNDER YOUR HAT?
    A journey into the world of outsider art, as seen through the works of Judith Scott, an artist with Down Syndrome whose enigmatic sculptures have won her worldwide acclaim.

    close