Animals (1998 film)

Animals is a 1998 American fantasy romance film written and directed by Michael Di Jiacomo in his directorial debut, and starring Tim Roth, Mili Avital and John Turturro.

Cast

 * Tim Roth as Henry
 * Mili Avital as Fatima
 * Rod Steiger as Fontina
 * Barbara Bain as The Mother
 * John Turturro as Tuxedo Man
 * Mickey Rooney as Tollkeeper
 * Lothaire Bluteau as Young Laurent
 * Jacques Herlin as Laurent
 * O-Lan Jones as Essie

Production
Filming occurred in South Carolina in March 1997. The opening black-and-white 13-minute segment The Tollkeeper was shot in December 1996 in Utah.

Reception
The Mail & Guardian gave the film a positive review: "Di Jiacomo’s screenplay for Animals blurs the levels of accepted reality and the magical, and while this may reveal a fascination with magical realism that is now becoming popular in films, its use here makes for an imaginatively coloured, whimsical story that even manages to pack a startling ending."