Magical realism continues to be one of the most absorbing genres of film today. The unusual blend of real-world elements with imaginative visions bring a sense of how the world is seen in actuality and how we see the world when we project our mind's eye onto our surroundings. It's one of the most beautiful and artistic methods to present a cinematic story.
In director Benh Zeitlin's mystical tale of survival, Beasts of the Southern Wild, he spins a miraculous parable about a young girl trying to withstand forces both natural and familial. In a film about a child's need to muster uncommon bravery for her age and to grow up in the midst of life-threatening circumstances, we follow her on a perilous journey of startling distinction.
Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) is a young girl who lives with her father Wink (Dwight Henry) in a small, fictitious island community known as "the Bathtub." Despite being nearly closed-off from the rest of society, the people thrive on their sense of togetherness and lively celebrations. When the island is ravaged by storm floods, Hushpuppy must face the tasks at hand, which include obtaining medicine for her ill father and finding her mother, who has been missing for most of her life.
Quvenzhane Wallis' performance is that rare occurrence where a child actor exhibits as much artistic talent as an older and more experienced actors. Her acting looks very natural and unforced because she's a child and immerses herself in this young character . To watch her in this film is to witness the unfurling of a future in show business with tremendous opportunity for her. As Hushpuppy, Willis brings to radiance the abundant and healthy curiosity that she has for the world around her. She has a vivid imagination that reveals both bravery and vulnerability. She courageously stands up to a pack of long-extinct aurochs, a scene that's beautifully reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are; and yet, she is saddened by the disappearance of her mother, which we see in a scene where she imagines her mother's voice in her head, pretending to have a conversation with her.
Her character holds desires to find her mother and heal her father that are so strong that she isn't bound by fear, but does whatever she can to fulfill these tasks. She may just be one of the bravest characters in cinema this year.
Dwight Henry's role as a survivalist father gives the viewer frustration because of his stubborn nature, but that's how you know it's an excellent performance. He doesn't want to leave the Bathtub, even with the storm approaching. He feels like he can withstand it. There is a brief mention of Hushpupy's mother being caught in a storm, so this could be Wink's way of trying to prove his strength against the earth's natural forces that caused the disappearance of his wife. Despite his recklessness, he is still an adequate father, teaching his daughter how to take care of herself when he isn't around anymore.
The screenplay by the director and Lucy Alibar, based on the latter's play Juicy and Delicious, magnificently blends scenes of fantastical elements and views of devastation. There is a scene towards the beginning of the film where the inhabitants of the Bathtub celebrate for the sake of celebrating, with Hushpuppy running through the party with sparklers in hand, a feeling of unity among the people, only to have their lives uprooted from the storm.
There is also an interesting use of certain sound effects in the film. Occasionally, we'll hear the beating of a specimen's heart when Hushpuppy either observes or places her ear close enough to it. It's a testament to the life that's teeming around her.
With the low budget of the film, director Zeitlin gives it a look of simplicity, which is appropriate for the story's setting. It's not an obnoxious location, but a sort-of shantytown with its own weird beauty. His characters are heartbreakingly real and his situations even more so. He delicately guides Hushpuppy into the harsh responsibilities she must carry if she wants to take care of those who she loves. He tames his beasts into subjects of wonder.
Final grade: A
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