Beasts of the Southern Wild– Movie Review
Don’t be fooled by the adorable little girl in the trailer: Beasts of the Southern Wild, this summer’s indie darling, is no kid’s movie. But in fact, it’s the innocent and fantastical perspective of 6-year-old narrator Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) that makes the harsh realities of this film into a magical experience.
The film follows Hushpuppy, her ailing father (Dwight Henry), and the residents of her defiant Louisiana community, The Bathtub. Only a few dozen people live in this town south of the protection of the levees- and even fewer stick around to ride out a storm reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina that destroys everything they know. Hushpuppy’s idea of a universe completely in balance is deeply challenged, and she and her bayou family must fight to regain the purpose they believe in.
Beasts begins in a world of light and magic- the residents of The Bathtub celebrate more holidays than anyone else in the world, Hushpuppy tells us. The celebration seems to include lots of fireworks, alcohol, and shaky, out-of-focus camera work that creates beautiful chaos.
But director Benh Zeitlin quickly addressed some obvious questions: just who lives in this hedonistic, impoverished town? Hushpuppy’s father is independent to the point of being suicidal; he’s also clearly alcoholic. The other residents of the town are similarly troubled. But Hushpuppy’s eye views them without judgement, showing us also the love and trust of the only home she knows.
Zeitlin offers us a smartly and darkly inverted fairy tale. In almost all such stories, a heroine emerges from exile in the wilderness, and reclaims her rightful place in society. In Beasts, Hushpuppy emerges from the wilderness… to reclaim her rightful place in the wilderness. But the scenes shot outside The Bathtub were equally beautiful, equally affected by Hushpuppy’s innocent (and at times confused) eye. The sights of Hushpuppy cleaned up and standing in the sanitary white walls of a hospital, or dancing in a dive bar, were surprisingly affecting, and further heighten the audience’s understanding of Hushpuppy’s love for the untamed, dirty beauty of home.
Did you see Beast of the Southern Wild? What did you think?
The film’s shaking, hand-held camera bothered me initially, to the point I was feeling motion sick. After some minutes it calmed down and I was able to watch this amazing film without distraction. This film is almost beyond description. It is a work of art. It is a visceral mythology. The closeups of squirming crawdads or smoking fireworks, or of Hushpuppy drawing her thoughts were masterful. I walked out of this movie holding back the tears. Tears for what? for the beauty of the work and the deep story of childhood and how children make sense of a confusing world. It is a powerful film.
Worst movie of all time. I cannot believe I sat through the whole thing. I noticed some people crying in the theater and I could help but join in at the one hour mark.
I loved it. And I think it’s a movie about the American Dream, not how it ends in succes, but how it begins : don’t give up the fight.
This movie will take you to another world. It is so unbelieveable that a little girl at age 5 years old could make a movie of this kind. This movie was different from any movie I have ever seen in my life. Looking at the relationship between a father and a daughter
and the child because she knew deep down her father was ill , he played a voice strong trying to keep up his strength as if nothing was wrong. This was acting from the soul. It was a master art piece.
This movie deserved an academy award, an oscar,everthing that could be won. You rerely see true acting like this. It was the best movie
of the year.