BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

US, 2012, 93 minutes, Colour.
Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry.
Directed by Benh Zeitlin.


Beasts of the Southern Wilds has received a great deal of acclaim at Festivals, from critics and from the public. (One of its awards in Cannes was from SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication.) It is blend of realism and fantasy, set in Louisiana.

The central character is a little girl, Hushpuppy. Quvenzanhe Wallis is impressive, a strong character, in herself and in her care for her ailing father. There has been quite a lot of, as PR calls, ‘Oscar buzz’ for her performance.

The southern setting introduces us to a survival way of life with a group of poor people who live on the water. Floods come and the way of life is disrupted. Father and daughter sail along the river, encountering their friends who are struggling with the flood. Eventually they are rounded up and taken to a shelter for food, care and for hospital attention. They are wary, want to get back home – which they do.

As a picture of a different community, the film has many vivid and moving moments.

The title, Beasts of the Southern Wilds, has reminded many viewers of Where the Wild Things Are. Not a misplaced reminder, especially as Hushpuppy’s imagination actually sees these almost mythical lumbering beasts – but can tame them as they bow before her. She is indomitable.

In fact, the film is a tribute to the indomitability of the human spirit.

1. The impact of this story? Acclaim, awards?

2. A Louisiana story? The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? Floods in the bayous, the picture of the communities, destruction, evacuation, people wanting to live their own lives, escape? The spirit of the bayous?

3. Life in the bayous, the homes, poverty, survival? Work? Fishing? The impact of the flood and destruction, the visuals? The Bathtub and its sailing? The contrast with the shelters, the built-up houses, communities? The scenes of the ocean?

4. The musical score – local themes?

5. The blend of the real and the surreal, the visuals of the beasts and their moving across the landscapes? Destruction? The beast chasing, meeting with Hushpuppy, kneeling?

6. Hushpuppy, the performance of Quvenzhane Wallis? Her age, strong presence? Her point of view? The little girl, the absent mother, with her father? The bond with him? Their lifestyle, the fishing, learning from him, his setting her up as a heroic figure?

7. The flood, its effect, in the Bathtub, moving along the bayou, sharing experiences with the range of neighbours?

8. The neighbours, the old man, the family, white and black? Their wanting to stay, their experiences of the flood and destruction? Their mutual support? Basic needs? The simple lives? The characters, the talk? Sailing?

9. Hushpuppy and her having to make decisions, the nature of her father’s illness, the scenes of his sickness? His trying to cope?

10. The authorities, the round-up, taking people to the shelter, the father and his going to the hospital, his not wanting to be there, the visitors, helping him leave and escape, the bus? The motivations?

11. Hushpuppy and her learning, her encounters with people, her father on the river, her sense of freedom, his illness, death?

12. The beasts, the images, their effect? The symbolic role in the film?

13. Hushpuppy, the crisis, with her father and his death? Support from the neighbours? Her accepting reality – and her growing up, her future?