Beasts of the Southern Wild
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Year: 2012
Country: USA
IMDB
Average Rating: 3.9 / 5
Beasts of the Southern Wild, appeared to be well received by our members, with only 3 people out of the 53 responses we got back, awarding the film the lowest score it received on the night, which was a 2, with the vast majority of people awarding it 4.
Comments on the film generally touched upon the ‘stunning central performance’ of the young girl ‘Hushpuppy’ played by Quvenzhané Wallis, as well as the ‘ambitious’ and ‘thought provoking’ narrative which saw her stand up defiantly against her harsh environment.
One member commented that:
‘It was a complex film with many elements; the relationship between the girl and her father, her "demons" which she confronted at the end, the poor mixed race band who were happy to live simply without demanding much from society and the contrast with "normal" life in America. We both felt the film made a very powerful statement about modern life and what is actually important. Also we felt the hand held camera technique served to emphasise the reality of their world; nothing was staged or carefully lit.’
The film however did have its critics, and some responses we received were eager to argue that the film at times was too sad or emotional. One member wrote how they were: ‘overwhelmed by the acting. Quite stressed by it’, and some appeared to be at odds with the film’s allegorical message.
A highlight for us was to hear from one member that Beasts of the Southern Wild was an ‘excellent and moving film which I would probably not otherwise have watched.’ It is great to hear that sort of comment, because we obviously make it an aim to introduce our members to films they have not heard of.
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Year: 2012
Country: USA
IMDB
Average Rating: 3.9 / 5
Beasts of the Southern Wild, appeared to be well received by our members, with only 3 people out of the 53 responses we got back, awarding the film the lowest score it received on the night, which was a 2, with the vast majority of people awarding it 4.
Comments on the film generally touched upon the ‘stunning central performance’ of the young girl ‘Hushpuppy’ played by Quvenzhané Wallis, as well as the ‘ambitious’ and ‘thought provoking’ narrative which saw her stand up defiantly against her harsh environment.
One member commented that:
‘It was a complex film with many elements; the relationship between the girl and her father, her "demons" which she confronted at the end, the poor mixed race band who were happy to live simply without demanding much from society and the contrast with "normal" life in America. We both felt the film made a very powerful statement about modern life and what is actually important. Also we felt the hand held camera technique served to emphasise the reality of their world; nothing was staged or carefully lit.’
The film however did have its critics, and some responses we received were eager to argue that the film at times was too sad or emotional. One member wrote how they were: ‘overwhelmed by the acting. Quite stressed by it’, and some appeared to be at odds with the film’s allegorical message.
A highlight for us was to hear from one member that Beasts of the Southern Wild was an ‘excellent and moving film which I would probably not otherwise have watched.’ It is great to hear that sort of comment, because we obviously make it an aim to introduce our members to films they have not heard of.