Most directors can only dream of touching what Benh Zeitlin manages to achieve with his debut film, “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” It is a industry appearance as daring and ambitious as the Coen Brothers’ “Blood Simple,” Terrence Malick’s “Badlands” and John Cassavetes’ “Shadows.” None of these groundbreaking films played it safe when they were released, and all three challenged and captivated their audiences, bringing a fresh new style and innovative directorial talent to the screen.
Premiering earlier in the year at the Sundance Film Festival, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” won the Grand Jury Prize, Sundance’s highest achievement, cementing it as one of the most hyped and anticipated features of 2012. Despite the high expectations that are tied to the film, it does not disappoint. Zeitlin’s low-budget debut is so invigorating because it manages to tell a personal story about a father and daughter attempting to cope with the tragedy of a storm reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina, but also zooms out and takes in a national scope of dealing with the same devastation. Set in a fictional bayou inspired by Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana, Zeitlin follows a six-year-old girl, Hushpuppy, and her unpredictable father, Wink, as the extreme flooding forces their community to vacate their makeshift houses and try to survive as their homes are destroyed.
Less than one year after Hurricane Katrina, Spike Lee released his evocative four-hour documentary “When the Levees Broke,” a film which addressed many of the questions raised during the aftermath of the storm. Zeitlin addresses some of the same issues in a less direct fashion and in a fictional setting. His short, character-based film manages to present a loud social criticism of the class divide, an issue brought to the center of the nation’s attention in the wake of Katrina.
Because films often fail if their star, be it a child or an adult actor, is unconvincing, there is a lot riding on the performance of six-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, who plays the protagonist Hushpuppy. Wallis displays a confidence and maturity I have never seen by an actress so young and with no experience though, and her breathtaking performance is crucial to the film’s success. Her role is a challenging one, as the film revolves around her survival and newfound independence when her father goes missing. Zeitlin asks a lot from Wallis, but she responds brilliantly, providing a realistic sense of character development during the 90-minute film. Wallis’s performance is matched by another newcomer, Dwight Henry, who takes on his first film playing the role of Wink. He provides the film with a harsh sense of realism, a stark contrast to the innocence and naivety of Hushpuppy.
As it is a debut film, there are bound to be some minor flaws – primarily the fantasy element provided by the titular “Beasts.” This feels unnecessary and adds a metaphorical weight to the film which is not needed. Also, some of the supporting performances feel lifeless, but this is bound to happen with so many amateur actors, especially when they are sharing the screen with two of the most impressive debut performances in recent memory. Zeitlin’s inexperience does not slow him down. His film displays stunning imagery and proves he possesses a natural visual flair as he captures the magical Louisiana setting in all its beauty.
Watching “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is a thoroughly cathartic experience, helped in part by the tremendous score that Zeitlin created with with Dan Romer.Most importantly, though, provides a firm message of hope. In the face of adversity, a young child comes of age as she fights to keep her community together in a time of despair, despite being completely inexperienced and unprepared for this situation. Throughout the film, Wink repeatedly reminds his daughter not to cry and to stay strong, a message that resonates just as powerfully with the audience.
