Beasts Of The Southern Wild (**** out of ****)

Somewhere outside of New Orleans there is a humble community known as The Bathtub. The place is is nearly void of time and society. The residents live in a dream like bliss where joy comes first. In this place there lives a girl of immaculate bravery. Her name is Hushpuppy and she will be king of The Bathtub, a figure who historians will talk about a 1000 years from now. Hushpuppy is a girl unlike and similar to many children. She is different due to her resilient strength, living situation and curiosity in a life that is like no other. She is similar due to her being a child that is simply discovering the world. Hushpuppy believes the universe is all connected and she is a piece of larger puzzle. She believes her situation will result in impossible fame though, how children dream. The character is played by Quvenzhane Wallis in hypnotic performance. She lives and breaths the world around and is impossible to ignore her talent. Without her the film would not be possible, she is part of the magic that holds it together.

Hushpuppy lives with her father (a marvelous Dwight Henry) in this isolated community. Her father named Wink is a father of great love. He trains Hushpuppy in the ways of survivor and living. He loves his daughter unquestionable but is not afraid of punishing her ( a slap after she burns down a shack is tough love). Wink has told Hushpuppy that her mother swam out into the water and the small child believes she will return one day. She calls out to mother in hard times, a child looking for help when it may never come. Some of the trouble in this child's life comes from the environment and nature itself. Whether it be the rising water or large boar like animals called Aurochs. People of the community believe in a folk tale that these pre Ice Age creatures will return one day and that is not far the truth.

Beasts Of The Southern Wild is a film that will be seen in many different ways. A small girl's path into maturity, a fantasy story on small proportions, a tale of pieces of the universe, a father and daughter's love, a message about society and the environment and others that have yet to be realized.  The film is shot on a minuscule budget and shines bright with authenticity. The locations and the people feel real for an odd folk lore. The actors (namely the two leads) are a welcomed relief to  art form where performances seemed phoned in now days. The story is easy to be absorb into and dissected for depths. Sometimes it takes a smaller film (in size not heart) to make one appreciate the allure of cinema. Director Behn Zeitlin makes a wondrous debut with this film. It's in the style of a David Gordon Green (before he decided to stop thinking intelligently). Beasts Of The Southern Wild has the style, depth and love of a Terrence Malick film but also the bruising but hopeful heart and imagination of a Hayao Miyazaki (it's like a live action version of one of his films). This is arguably the best film of the year right now but undoubtedly should be considered as one of the best any way you take it.

**** out of ****