BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) is part dystopian, part apocalyptic, part drama, part fantasy, and part social commentary. When all these parts are assembled by director Benh Zeitlin, what Beasts of the Southern Wild becomes in its totality is joy. Pure and beautiful joy.

The tale is told from the view of a six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) who lives with her father Wink (Dwight Henry) on an island referred to as “the Bathtub” in the Louisiana Bayou. The Bathtub exists beyond the area’s levee system, so it is frequently flooded and quite filthy. But through Hushpuppy’s eyes, it is a magical and beautiful home that she is proud to live and play in.

The film leaves many things up to the imagination and/or decision-making of the viewer. Is the film set in a near-distant future dystopia or in modern times? When Hushpuppy encounters the woman at the floating bar, is it her long-absent mother? Are the prehistoric aurochs released from recent ice calving caused by global warming… or merely the figment of a child’s fantastical imagination? The story can be interpreted in many ways, which is one of the reasons why this is such a masterful film. For me personally, I felt the primary themes were community (the importance of looking out for one another), resilience, and respect for our extremely intricate ecosystem. For another viewer, the central message might be something very different.

Hushpuppy learns history from the teacher in the Bathtub. She is also instructed on the importance of adapting to survive. Her father is often quick to anger, but it is evident that this is because he knows that he is dying, and he is desperate to ensure that Hushpuppy will survive without him. His methods often seem harsh, but it is clear they are born from a place of love and concern. Both central actors give rich performances. Wallis was 5 years old when she aced her audition, 6 years old when she began filming, and 9 years old when she became the youngest nominee for a Best Lead Actress Oscar. All the on-screen performers in the film are locals of the Louisiana area where the filming took place, and you feel that when you are watching the movie. No one in the film appears “polished” or out of place.

Beasts of the Southern Wild is a one-of-a-kind flick that took me on a journey that bordered on spirituality.