Director: Benh Zeitlin
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Beasts of the Southern Wild is a hard film to explain to someone who hasn’t seen it, and an even harder film to describe in a written review. It’s a film that hits every note, and is an amazing achievement for first time director Benh Zeitlin. It is a triumph, and should be considered nothing short of a masterpiece.
The film takes place in a waterlogged delta town call Bathtub, where a small, colorful group of characters, live out their simple, yet happy, lives. The film focuses on Hushpuppy, played by Quvenzhané Wallis, who is an exuberant 6-year old, and her father Wink, played by Dwight Henry.
While the film itself is mostly grounded in reality, there are fantasy elements throughout that remind us that this is a fictional world. It is however, difficult not to draw parallels between Bathtub and New Orleans. It’s clear that Benh Zeitlin drew heavily from the events of Katrina to create the almost dream-like setting.
All the characters in the film are non-actors, and were cast in southern Louisiana, where the film was shot. One might think casting non-actors might be problematic performance-wise, however the acting was superb, most notably from Quvenzhané Wallis, who is astounding. This year we’ve seen a number of films with strong performances from children, but this outshines them all. Each line she delivered had so much heart, emotion, and sincerity, that she can evoke laughter, happiness, and sadness, all at the same time.
Visually, the film is a marvel to look at. It’s amazing how great looking such a dirty, gritty, place can be. Much like David Gordon Green’s George Washington, Beasts captures the beauty of the rural south, and shows us that living in squalor and decay can actually be nice to look at when filmed properly.
Another outstanding component in the film was the score, also created by writer/director Benh Zeitlin. The mix of dreamy and traditional southern sounds compliment the film by enhancing the mood shifts and tone, and the lack of music also plays a large role in some of the more seminal moments. The music plays a large part in the amazing opening sequence of the film, which is breathtaking, and largely pulled together by the music.
With so many big movies coming out in 2012, it’s quite possible that Beasts of the Southern Wild may not get as much recognition as it deserves, and if that happens it would be tragic. Films that affect me this much, are few and far between, and this will most definitely be sitting pretty at the top of my best of 2012 list. It’s well executed, thoughtful, a joy to watch, and a must-see.
