Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Worked for me too, Eve. As I mentioned to Mary, I viewed it as a surreal folktale. A story told with emotion, fear, hopes and dreams. Not your typical linear story, with a beginning, middle and end. I love films that challenge you in this way.

Should get it today. Can't wait.

Please come back and share your review, Mary! I love talking movies and not to many have seen this one.

I will. Maybe I'll watch it tonight. I was going to last night but went out instead. I'll let you know.

Ok, I watched it last night. And, I completely agree with your story. Surreal, yes. Unsettling, too. Compelling. I am going to watch it again.

Me too. I want to see it again too. The film's effects are still with me and I saw it a while ago. Like her little grubby hands, holding small animals up to her little grubby face, so she can listen to their hearts. the pump pump pump pump. She knew her Daddy's heart was bad. Those pump pump pumps were all that stood between her and total abandonment. Geeze.

Ohh, that's a good point! I remember that. I bet there's a lot of things like that in the story. I was taken with how dirty she was. She is so adorable. I wanted to take her home, give her a long hot bath and some clean clothes, that fit!

Yeah...... the beautiful Hushpuppy. Such a soft name for a kid with a spine of steel!

It's think it's the conventional thinking that children that grow up in a bad environment become dysfunctional adults, but some must have amazing strength and rise above the poverty and addiction and irresponsibility to become great people.

That is an interesting point, Mary. I read a review from someone who hated the movie. He said it portrayed the father as a stereotyped, unemployed and drunk black man. Who was abusive to his daughter and never tried to improve their lives. What the hell!?!?! Um, I don't exactly think it would be the same movie if they filmed Wink going to the unemployment office for a job. HA! Oh yeah, and Hushpuppy would be taken by CPS and moved into a loving foster home. Hasn't Hollywood made a hundred movies like that???
I see "Beasts" as a folktale. Like a story a grown-up would tell a group of children, when they asked about what Katrina was like.

It's about facing fears, too. Hushpuppy created the monster bores in her mind from what she was taught in school and they were beasts of the Southern wild. And as her father died, she confronted those fears and they receded. But, her father and that community were beasts of the Southern wild, of a different sort. He and his neighbors were drunks and irresponsible and had created unspeakable poverty and abuse for their children. Which is worse, being hunted and eaten by prehistoric bores or growing up in that environment?

The film is about soooo many things. That is why it is so rich. I'm going to watch it again :-)

Me, too, I need to see it again. I'm sure it's rich with things I missed the first time around.

Fierce and brutal love...so true. I thought it was strange that I never really "felt sorry" for Hushpuppy. In any similar situation, I would have worried about that child. But she portrayed such strength!

Lilt, just saw that Steven Colbert is having the director of the film on his show tonight, thursday.

I am on it , Annie!
My family knows I spend 11-12 pm with my make-believe boyfriends Jon and Stephen.
Thanks for the update, sweetie!

Go for it, Ronanp! Just a heads up...there are no car chases or Tom Cruise.

No Tom Cruise is a good thing ;) Actually I'm a big Indie cinema fan. Been to Sundance film festival a few times.

Wow! I bet that was really exciting! "Beasts" won the Grand Jury Prize there last month.

Beasts???? Oh, I thought it was Breasts of the Southern Wild .... never mind..... ;)

Already planning to go to Sundance next year

Do you go for business or pleasure?

Pleasure. I'll see four movies on a day then ski. The next day. It's a blast.

I like your review, Girly! It is not a film for everyone. But you have to sit back and let it take you wherever. I found some sweet humor, amongst the heartache. Hushpuppy with the blow torch, for example.

Generally those movies that are made for everyone aren't my cup of tea. This one has some absolute gold in it if you didn't mind the search. It reminded me of my own childhood in many many ways which is always a hard thing but there is a melancholic beauty to it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I think you may have your own story there, Girly. If you haven't already written about your childhood, you should! I am a sucker for the visual intrigue and I thought this film was gorgeous. I heard it was shot on 16mm. Real film!!!

I don't go to many movies for the very reasons you mentioned, Dex. I guess I'm a bit of snob. This film is nominated for several awards, so I think it would not be hard to find.

So I have never heard of this movie, but will now look for it. : )

I went to see the trailer, and have to say to you both...the little girl talks like almost every child in the rural south I have ever met. I'm a Mississippi girl, and that's how I was raised. How I talked before I expanded my horizons. : ) In Penguinswon's defense...my boyfriend is not from MS, and it took him a year to really be able to understand some of the country folk from this area. Sometimes he still looks to me to translate. I guess I like it because it's authentic...I do get really tired of people thinking we all talk like the Southerners in Eastern Georgia and the Carolinas..."Southern" is like British...there are many dialects, and they're all different.

I look for good visual storytelling to fill in where the verbal narrative falters.
I wanted to love the movie but had a hard time following the story.
He's a young film maker. Over time his vision will become clearer.

Yes, he is very young! I am thoroughly impressed with this first film. The story wasn't told in the typical linear fashion, that's one of the things I liked about it!