Beasts of the Southern Wild is a fairytale-like telling of one six-year-old’s experience living in southern Louisiana during hurricane Katrina.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

First-time director Benh Zeitlin has already garnered high honours for Beasts with a total of 54 wins and 60 nominations including 4 Oscar nominations. Zeitlin’s Best Director Oscar nomination placed him in the company of some of the most revered directors in the world. Beasts received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay. Nine-year-old star Quvenzhané Wallis(as Hushpuppy) broke records for youngest-ever nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Dwight Henry plays opposite her as Hushpuppy’s father Wink.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Hushpuppy is a 6-year-old living in an isolated community in Louisiana, left mostly to her own devices by her alcoholic, emotionally ill-equipped, quick-tempered father, and abandoned by her absentee mother. Raised with a “live off the land” “never show weakness” attitude, Hushpuppy’s fears and the uncertainty of her existence are portrayed by the looming, perpetual advancement of ancient monsters. When hurricane Katrina hits, Hushpuppy’s father insists on staying through the storm, challenging the elements with his shotgun. Through her voice-over we are given a window into her world; both majestic and ominous, unpredictable and cohesive. Surviving the storm is just one of the challenges Hushpuppy faces during the film; ultimately she must survive the storm and its aftermath, and confront her fears as she accepts the mortality of her father.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Beasts of the Southern Wild is set in “The Bathtub”, a fictitious island in Louisiana inspired by the Isle de Jean Charles. Lying outside of the levees, flooding is only one of the trials its residents face. The examination into the living conditions pre-Katrina challenges our assumptions regarding the standard of living within The United States. In spite of this, the characters are not represented as victims: rather, their reasons for staying are delivered sympathetically and in such a way as to force the audience to reassess our own notions of what constitutes “happiness”. Assumptions are further uprooted when the typically “good” Aid workers are re-cast in the narrative as antagonists.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

At times Beasts of the Southern Wild is evocative of Pan’s Labyrinth. Zeitlin’s direction infuses the film with the childlike perspectives of its protagonist: the narrative is coloured by Hushpuppy’s naïveté and the influences of her father’s stories. Both plots centre upon a solitary young girl surrounded by turmoil who uses mythology and imagination to understand complex issues and larger forces at work in her world. In Hushpuppy’s eyes fear and adversity are transformed into prehistoric beasts. The film’s pacing and tone, however, more closely resemble the works of Terrence Malick.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Beast of the Southern Wild is an impressive first film filled with excellent performances by non-professional actors. It is poetic and insightful and I look forward to Zeitlin’s next films.

Astrid Handling