Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry. Source: Slate
When a Louisiana bayou is flooded by a severe storm, Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), her father, and the rest of the residents in the Bathtub are forced to fend for themselves. Her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), is overly optimistic that they will be able to rebuild their community. But unbeknownst to the young heroine, Wink is suffering and his health is deteriorating. They do the best with what they have, but soon the salt water begins to kill off the plants and animals they have been surviving off of. Although they try to drain the bayou by using dynamite to destroy the levee, the authorities force Hushpuppy and the others to evacuate.
Wallis' performance was easily the best part of this film. As the youngest Oscar nominee for an actress in a leading role, it's undeniable that this girl has talent. Filming begun when she was only five, but the girl has tremendous star power. She commands your attention, and she owns the screen. Her character is not a heroine in the normal sense, but Hushpuppy saves more than her community. She saves herself from her fears and her past.
Coming in a close second, is the beautiful cinematography of the film. All the breath taking scenery in warm colours just makes you feel happy inside. It gives you hope that Hushpuppy and all her friends and family will restore the bayou to it's original state. The way it was filmed caused a strange calm to come over me: a sensation that cannot truly be explained, which is what I think makes this film so beautiful.
Zeitlin's directorial debut was poetic and magical. It's unique, and strange in the most positive sense of the word. It's brave, yet shows a vulnerable side that many of us would never dare to share. Beasts of the Southern Wild will put you under a spell, and you'll probably never want to snap out of it.
Rating: 8.5/10
Totally gonna watch this movie over the weekend
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