Review by by Char Hardin
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Writers: Lucy Alibar (screenplay), Benh Zeitlin
Stars: Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry, and Levy Easterly
"PURE MAGIC!"

Six year old Hushpuppy lives with her alcoholic father Wink in a bayou community in the southern delta called "Bathtub". The community is made up of a lively race of people who love to celebrate. Very early in her story, Hushpuppy says, "The Bathtub has more holidays than the rest of the world".
The story of Hushpuppy is narrated by her. The viewer sees and everything through her eyes. From the deplorable living conditions of absolute poverty, to the good times of a little girl running through the night with roman candles in both hands and having the time of her life. Hushpuppy is comical and cute, but there is a sadness about her that steams from a missing mother. In a tender moment, where her father has come up missing (of his own accord), Hushpuppy is hungry and she goes into the trailer that she lives separate from her father's shack, to cook a can of cat food. Before preparing the cooked cat food, she talks about her mother. There is a sleeveless jersey on the wall, she removes and placed over a chair. She hears her mother's voice and responds as if her mother was with her.
Hushpuppy will go through many hardships over the course of this film starting with a mysterious ailment that befalls her father, an impending hurricane and its aftermath. And the most bizarre aspect is the release of an ancient race of animals called the "Aurochs". Through it all the child shows gumption, strength and unwavering resolve to conquer her fears and leave something behind for the future generations to know, "In a million years, when kids go to school, they gonna know: Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in The Bathtub."
"The Beasts of The Southern Wild" is a triumphant story of hope and the tough love of a father preparing his daughter to live a life without him. Wink was very hard on Hushpuppy and at times, one would think he didn't care about her, but he did."My only job in live is to teach her how to make it." He didn't coddle her, he was constantly teaching her how to care for herself, to be fearless, fish with her bare hands and more.
The damage to The Bathtub in the wake of the hurricane is devastating and the resiliency of its remaining residents was moving. In the face of watery adversary, they took matters into their own hands and with enough dynamite to blow a levee, they helped release the water that was killing the remaining animals and choking their community. And right in the thick of it was a little girl named Hushpuppy.
I highly recommend this film. It will warm your heart and oh, yes, have plenty of tissues on hand, it is a tearjerker. You will laugh out loud when you see what happens when kitchen catches on fire after cooking cat food, the blowing of the levee and what the kids learn in school and more. Quvenzhane Wallis was amazing as "Hushpuppy"! This little girl deserves a nod from Oscar. The chemistry between her and Dwight Henry who played her father, Wink, was heart-felt and believable. Tender and fiery, sweet and scary, I truly loved this movie. 4.5 Out of 5...it's on DVD now...renting is one option my recommendation is to own it.
*Aurochs are a prehistoric creature. Huge beasts that look like wild boars. Pay close attention in the beginning when Hushpuppy is at school and the teacher is talking about environment. I didn't and caught it on my second viewing. During the first viewing, I thought they were a figment of Hushpuppy's imagination. Towards the end there is a fantasy meets reality moment that was so cool and special, it will mean more if you catch the connection of the beasts in the beginning.

For more from Char visit her website www.CharHardin.com