Beasts of the Southern Wild is the third of nine films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. As the films are listed alphabetically on the Oscar website, reviews will be in alphabetical order.
I hadn't heard about this film. I hadn't seen it listed on movie websites, Cinemaclock or any other source I check for that matter. Upon discovery, I heard that it was an independent film. So, the first thought that popped into my head when I saw it listed as an Oscar Best Picture nominee was: Brilliant. The second thought was: how on earth did this film get on the Academy radar - but who cares how because it did. It's brilliant that it did and creates some hope and optimism for all indie film makers.
The trailer focused on a child in an isolated southern community during a pre/post natural disaster situation. It showed poverty, devastation and loss much like the footage we saw from Hurricane Katrina in the deep south. And, it showed how the strength and determination of one small child could inspire everyone touched by her.
Despite the devastation and hopelessness, the trailer left an impression of optimism and inspiration and showed that regardless of situation, life can be beautiful.
Funnily enough, I thought of that Roberto Benigni film, Life is Beautiful (which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film). Not that Beasts of the Southern Wild is that similar, but the theme of a child in a dangerous and seemingly hopeless situation juxtaposed with the same child's wonder, imagination, curiosity, optimism, resolve and resilience is sort of shared.
Judging by the trailer (which is the point of this blog), Beasts of the Southern Wild appears to be the David in a list of Goliath Oscar Best Picture nominees. As this is the story of the underdog, so to is this the story of the underdog film at the Oscars.
I like both stories. I liked the trailer and I will likely see the film before Oscar time.
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