Filmmaker Spotlight

Jeremiah Zagar

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 complimented 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. A fascinating portrait of love and betrayal, family bonds, and the intimacy of dysfunction. Shot on 35mm, Hi Def, digital video; with 8mm and 16mm home movie footage. The soundtrack features music by the Books, Explosions in the Sky, Efterklang and Kelli Scarr. Jeremiah Zagar (director) was born in South Philadelphia in 1981. At age 19, he shot Delhi House, a documentary about a hospital and orphanage in India. The short premiered at the 2002 Slamdance Film Festival and aired on PBS affiliates across the country. Since then, Jeremiah has made three more award-winning short films: The Unbelievable Truth, Baby Eat Baby and Coney Island 1945. They have screened in numerous festivals in the US and abroad, including Tribeca, SXSW, and the London Film Festival. He has been a semi-finalist for a student Academy Awards and hopes to one day go to the actual Academy Awards. He was the recipient of the Parisi Award in the "Set In Philadelphia" Screenwriting Competition in 2004. A graduate of Emerson College, Zagar lives in Brooklyn but his heart will forever remain in Philadelphia. http://www.inadreammovie.com/