BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
By Gary Murray
Starring Dwight Henry and Quvenzahane Wallis
Written by Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar
Based on the stage play Juicy and Delicious written by Lucy Alibar
Directed by Benh Zeitlin
Running time 91 min
MPAA Rating PG-13
Selig Film Rating—Matinee
It takes a giant leap of faith to make an independent film. One has to get an idea they believe in enough to find investors, create a crew, shoot the film and go through the post production without any guarantee that the film will be shown anywhere other than in someone’s living room. One such filmmaker to believe in his project is Benh Zeitlin and his first major release is Beasts of the Southern Wild.
The story is about people who will never leave the land, even in the face of impending danger. Hushpuppy (Quvenzahane Wallis) is a child with only one parent. Her mother has disappeared long ago and the little girl has only her fading memories and a basketball jersey to remember the woman.
Hushpuppy’s father is Wink (Dwight Henry) a local leader of an area called ‘The Bathtub”. It is in the most southern part of Louisiana on the wrong side of the levees. Everyone in their little water surrounded community looks up to Wink for guidance. We soon find that Wink is sick.
Knowing that his time is short, Wink starts teaching Hushpuppy how to fend for herself. They catch catfish by hand and maneuver in the water in a makeshift raft made from the discarded bed of a pick-up truck.
As a hurricane approaches, some of the residents of Bathtub begin to move to higher ground. Wink and Hushpuppy decide to ride out the storm. It is the aftermath of that event that drives some of the more surreal elements of the story.
The movie is about those people who love the land so much that they cannot leave and why they do that. They will risk their lives to stand their ground. Beasts of the Southern Wild is much more about family than a storm.
Young Quvenzahane Wallis makes an impressive screen debut. So often a child performer will mug at the camera and be all cutesy. Quvenzahane delivers a strong and honest performance without any acting tricks. She comes across as a fiercely independent child, but a child none the less. She mimics the adults around her, even when they make bad decisions. This is one of the strongest performances one will see from someone so young.
Dwight Henry owns every scene he is in. This is a powerhouse performance of a steadfast person. While we may not understand some of the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of his rational, he still does what he thinks is right. It is a determination that is as bull-headed as it is noble.
My biggest problem with Beasts is in the design of the film. Director Benh Zeitlin decides to make his film in that Paranormal Activity/Blair Witch style of filmmaking with a shaking camera. The bouncing of the camera makes me ill to the point of having to shut my eyes in order not to become seasick. If he would have just used a tripod and kept his camera still, he would have had a more effective picture.
Beasts of the Southern Wild has done well at some major film festivals. It is not a mainstream entertainment but a film with a more limited appeal. The great performances save the technical detriments. For those who go toward the more avant-garde, this is your kind of flick.
