We present for your consideration 2012's Beasts Of The Southern Wild, recently released on DVD.
This movie won awards at Cannes and Sundance for first-time feature film director Benh Zeitlin.
Somehow it is accomplished in this movie about six-year-old Hushpuppy, who lives in the Mississippi Delta with her daddy, Wink. You may find Wink abusive, but perhaps he is preparing Hushpuppy to go on living when he dies.
I cannot tell you to watch this movie. You must decide for yourself if you can bear the destitution, the desecration. You must see for yourself if you can find the love and beauty in the empowerment of a child.
I have decided I will use the following words to describe Beasts Of The Southern Wild:
Magical.
Mysterious.
Mythological.
Archetypal.
I predict an Academy Award nomination of some sort for Quvenzhané Wallis, who plays Hushpuppy. It should be a Best Actress nomination, but she might end up shuffled over to Best Supporting Actress.
Hushpuppy: I see that I am a little piece of a big, big universe, and that makes it right.
In this film I see the interconnectedness of humankind, the theme -- the belief -- I love above all others.
Watch if you will. Watch at your own risk. Watch if you dare.
Are you brave enough? It's okay if you aren't. I almost turned off the TV after the first ten minutes, but I made myself stick it out to see if I could find anything redeeming in this film.
And I did.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
P.S. I sponsor two children through charities that organize that kind of support. The first child is a little girl in Syria; the second child is a boy who lives in the Mississippi Delta. If his life is anything like Hushpuppy's, then my help is a mere drop in his bucket of misery. Don't comfort me. Don't tell me it's enough that I help, because nothing is enough.
Mrs. C. and I saw "Beasts of the Southern Wild" when it was in the theaters and we thought it was just great. We would recommend it highly.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know that someone else appreciates this movie, which is not easy to watch.
DeleteI definitely want to see this movie. I was thinking of getting the DVD. I forget they come on TV. Your take on it is just as I thought I would react to the film.
ReplyDeleteI think you will find it meaningful, Inger.
DeleteI don't know if I will watch it, though it really sounds like a great movie. Sometimes, all I want is a mindless, easy to follow, devoid all all messages movies just to unwind, life is rough enough.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this movie is for you right now, my friend.
DeleteI think I'm brave enough, but I'm not sure if I have time enough. I'll put it on my "to see" list.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not for children.
DeleteI just ordered it form Netflix--I'll let you know what I think.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like a pretty powerful movie all right. I will have to check it out. Also, kudos to you for sponsoring those children. They need all the help we can give.
ReplyDeletebest,
MOV
Powerful is the word, MOV.
DeleteDoes it have any car chases in it? Somehow I doubt it. If you like powerful cinema try Blue Valentine with Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Beautifully acted, realistic and tragic.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this but I didn't like Blue Valentine in spite of the fact that Ryan Gosling is a hotling and he is one of my back-up boyfriends.
DeleteI look forward to hearing your opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis comment was actually in reply to fishducky's comment. I don't know how I managed to split up hers and mine.
DeleteIt sounds like a powerful film, but I'm not sure it's our cup of tea. We actually watched three DVDs this weekend, (How 'bout THAT!) and the one that's supposed to have multiple Academy Award nominations is the one we liked the least. It's called "Winter's Bone." I'm sure it had a lot of "redeeming qualities" in it, but it left us cold. The one we liked the best was a Bruce Willis/ Morgan Freeman flick called, "RED".
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't like Winter's Bone, then I don't think you'll like Beasts of the Southern Wild. Winter's Bone is a very dark movie. I haven't seen RED -- or at least I haven't been angry enough to see red recently.
DeleteHi Janie .. sounds interesting - whether I get to see it or not is another matter - so many other great movies around here at the moment. But I'll keep it in mind ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
It's always nice to hear from you, Hilary.
DeleteI dunno. I've read three depressing books in a row. I DID really like the Marigold movie. I'm cruising through Downton Abbey Season 2 at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Downton Abbey. Season Three starts tonight. Of course, it's already been on in England, so I know quite a bit about what's going to happen. When The Hurricane was here for Christmas we had a number of conversations about Lady Mary and Matthew and whatever will happen to Lady Edith (she has such a beaky nose) and SPOILER ALERT READ THE REST OF THE SENTENCE AT YOUR OWN PERIL
Deletehow will the family accept Lady Sybil and her husband, their former chauffeur?
My granddaughter is in her first year of teaching (kindergarten in the Delta) and it's hard to comprehend what she sees/hears daily. She is a Teach for America teacher and will be there for a minimum of two years. I am so proud of her for choosing to be there. I will have to get the movie.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a huge commitment. You have good reason to be proud of her. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteI saw "Beasts of the Southern Wild" at the top of this post and quickly scrolled to the bottom without even reading it, because I rented "Beasts of the Southern Wild" on Amazon Instant Video, but haven't watched it yet. I'll let you know what I thought of it when I do.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it. It's very moving, but it's not easy to watch.
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