Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

A six year old girl (the captivating Quvenzhane Wallis) lives in the Delta region of Louisiana with her unstable and ill (both physically and mentally) father (Dwight Henry, a baker making his acting debut). He insists on toughening her up in preparation for the time he'll no longer be there and have to take care of herself. As a disastrous storm approaches, both will be tested. Based on a play by Lucy Albar, who co-wrote the screenplay with director Benh Zeitlin, this is a fable not to be taken literally. It's a small, lovely film that already appears to be in danger of being overpraised. Its won prizes at both the Cannes and Sundance film festivals. For most of its running time, it feels fresh and original but as good as Wallis is (and she's very good), it's still one of those wise child beyond their years characters that, of course, almost never exist in real life. But, as I said, it's a fable and as long as one doesn't mistake the film's low budget realism for grit and accepts the fantasy and inventive aspects, it works. Still, Zeitlin packs a lot of weight on the film's well intentioned shoulders. I suppose that the film doesn't crack under all the pretense is a testament to the sincerity involved. Though Hurricane Katrina is never mentioned, its existence is transparent.