Quvenzhane Wallis IS The Man


Beasts of the Southern Wild is the sort of movie you experience as all or nothing: you either love it and see it as a full-blown masterpiece, or you loathe it. No inbetween. I saw the film last night and I most definitely fall into the first category.

The story is told by Hushpuppy, exquisitely portrayed by Wallis, who was FIVE when she auditioned for the role; she had to say she was six, because that was the minimum age they were considering for the part. They certainly made the right decision in casting this brilliant little child, who appears in virtually every scene and carries the film quite effortlessly on her tiny shoulders. I found myself watching much of the proceedings with my jaw dropped, wonder-struck, partly at what she was going through and partly because of her presence itself, the sheer power she brings to the role, without ever, even for one second, projecting anything other than pure naturalness.

Watching this film is also very humbling ~ seeing how these people are living, without any of the conveniences so many of us take for granted, and actually choosing to continue living this way - very humbling. And the relationship between Hushpuppy and her drunken father, Wink (beautifully played by Dwight Henry), is so overwhelmingly compelling that I cannot see how anyone with even the slightest glimmer of a heartbeat wouldn't be moved.