Beasts of the Southern Wild Review

     I was starting to get worried about 2012 as a year for film. There were many good movies released this year, but there weren't really any that reached that certain level of greatness that a few films every year usually reach. The Dark Knight Rises was emotionally strong, but plagued by script issues. The Avengers was fun, but lacked the emotional weight to get to that next level. I was worried that there wouldn't be any films like that this year, then I saw Beasts of the Southern Wild.
     The story of Beasts of the Southern Wild is simple enough. A young girl living in a poor bayou called the bathtub must survive with her father when a flood destroys their hometown. What is remarkable about this movie is the way that is told. The filmmaking style and script are so intimate that they force you to have an emotional connection with these characters. It really feels like you, as an audience, are getting to know these people and the world they live in. This has a great effect for the audience. By the end of the film, these aren't just characters in a movie, they're people, and they're far from perfect, but you become so attached to them and their struggles that you're willing to forgive them for their flaws.
     Part of the reason that this is able to work is because of the level of the acting. Quvenzhane Wallis is a true revelation as the protagonist, Hushpuppy. She shows a surprising strength and confidence as the character, which is truly surprising for an actress who turned 8 just a few days ago. Her performance is so brilliant and emotional that it's easy to forget that she's an actress, since she seems so real. Dwight Henry is also great as her tough, but loving father. He is able to convey the love he has for his daughter. Even when it seems like he's being rough with her, you can tell that he's doing everything out of love and care.
     The focus of the film is not on creating a straightforward narrative, though it does have one. It focuses more on creating characters, and themes of human strength and love. There are many aspects of the story that don't seem to fit in with the plot, but they serve a greater purpose, driving home the themes in such a way that doesn't seem too forceful, all at the same time being shown in a very cool way.
     I only hope that I am not making it seem like a super-serious and depressing meditation on life, because it's not. While it primarily functions as a character study, these characters are so rich and developed, even the minor ones, that it is fun just to watch them. The movie is not only emotionally resonant, but entertaining and, at times, truly funny. But the one constant is that it constantly feels real. The characters, the setting, everything feels so real that I was truly surprised to find out that The Bathtub, the area that these characters call home, does not actually exist.
     The film is satisfying on almost every level. It also connects to its protagonist in its confidence and bravery. It doesn't try to make itself accessible to a wide audience. It knows what it is, and goes for that full force. If you like it, then you like it. If you don't, you don't. But like it or not, it is a powerful exercise and one that is a full product of the people involved. The film didn't have a huge budget, but it didn't let that hold it back. Director Benh Zeitlin told the story that he wanted to tell, and that is something that is truly inspirational.
Grade: A