It’s hard to watch Jeremiah Zagar’s documentary about his father, South Street mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, without thinking of
My Architect, the Oscar-nominated film by Philadelphia architect Louis Kahn’s son, Nathaniel. But unlike Louis Kahn, Zagar’s subject is very much alive, making
In A Dream more intimate. What develops is a painfully honest look at a troubled creative soul whose gift of beautiful public art came at a personal price. Isaiah’s marriage crumbles; his oldest son battles drug addiction; and Jeremiah keeps his camera rolling as his father retreats inward. Beautifully filmed, the son’s work proves to be as honest and affecting as that of his father.
B+
Originally published in Philadelphia magazine,
April 2008
