Les Bêtes du sud sauvage

An interesting idea, a strange rendition and an original conception of a nation that I don’t understand and I really don’t even know if I want to understand. Man has long been associated with nature, I admit. I also accept the fact that this film is more of a philosophical idea than actual reality, even though it pretends to look real. But for that to work, certain scenes in the film would have had to turn out differently than they actually did. The user Enšpígl described these problems in more detail in his review. When I want to make something, I should make it properly under any circumstances, and that’s where this movie fails the most. Anyhow, I must praise the music, which I found ethereal at some moments. Benh Zeitlin will be a good director one day, but I have to wait for his next movies to make sure of that. (21/01/2013)

Even if I could endure this emotionally (which wouldn't be a surprise, because I consider Where the Wild Things Are one of the most unbearable films of all time), I would still have to give a full cauldron for the incredible form - raw, elemental, rhythmic, and exactly corresponding to the film's message. I hunt in vain in my memory to find out when the last time was that I saw such systemically realism and fantasy connected into a whole, which at the end, despite the carefully maintained distance, completely cut me apart. Yeah, there is screaming, it is new age, it is pathos, it is social idyll... but it's just simply great. (11/07/2012)

I didn't have much hope for that movie, but I still trusted it. The title sounded interesting and I was curious to see what would come out of it. It actually surprised me a bit that the little Quvenzhané Wallis was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. I'm not sure if she really deserved it, although considering that Anne Hathaway was also nominated, who is nice to listen to but not that great, at least in the case of "Les Misérables," it's probably a deserved nomination for the little girl as well. She delivered an unbelievably believable performance here. At times, you feel that it's not even possible for her to be so natural. The way she fought the crab, how she stood up to the beast, those are scenes that you don't forget. Non-actor Dwight Henry, who played her father, supported her excellently, his role required several dimensions, and so he attacks all emotions. "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is also a beautifully fantastical film, where harsh reality combines with a wonderful fantasy story, which actually doesn't end fantastically. The way the little girl stands up to all evil, not only the elements, but also her father, who easily explodes and is not in good health, and also the beasts, shows how strong and unwavering childhood can be. This film will not have mass attendance, but for those who appreciate midnight screenings in art cinemas, it is almost a duty. However, the story of little Hushpuppy will appeal to more people. Just give it a chance. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/01/divosi-10-years-divoka-stvoreni-lets.html (05/03/2013)

These creatures have one amazing ability - they deceive perfectly with their bodies. In the first few minutes, they seem to be just a predictable addition to the academic box of "a depressing spectacle that will become even more depressing over time." But then it starts to rain, the soundtrack starts to sound melancholic, and the camera works its magic, and we are completely somewhere else. But just when I get used to the unconventional mood and setting, the last third comes, which doesn't fit at all with the previous hour, and every now and then I blink in surprise, wondering what's happening. However, the southern landscapes have one huge strength in their ranks, the magical Quvenzhané Wallis. This adorable girl, who can't be defeated by anything, can evoke a sympathetic-admiring smile with every monologue. The Oscar nomination was an unpleasant hype, but it is Hushpuppy who erases all the changes in the storytelling spirit and makes us forget about the overly screamy Dwight Henry or the unnecessarily obvious ecological subplot. But even she or the very pleasant innocence of most of the plot doesn't compensate for my final confusion over the stumbling gradation, the hesitant emotions, and above all the unclear ending. Considering how sincerely and realistically the movie presented itself throughout, I don't really accept this ending. (18/02/2013)

Beautiful film. It’s probably destined to be seen by few people and to divide them into two camps, but its skill and quality cannot be denied. Zeitlin set out on a difficult mission, attempting to weave together a slightly apocalyptic vision of the world with a dramatic father-daughter relationship and a few regular fantastical themes, and the result looks even weirder than it sounds in writing. But weird doesn't mean bad, and we have seen several times in the past that even seemingly irreconcilable genres can coexist without problem, and at least here that is 100% true. Surprisingly, the contrast between the developed and the underdeveloped world is not at the top of the list, as the premise suggests, and the film strays too far from reality in this respect, but the magical setting and the absurd look at the problems of today's society are something to behold, not only because of the interesting combination of almost fairytale themes with an current serious premise, but mainly because of the excellent cast (Wallis was unique!), the beautifully used effects and the wonderful soundtrack, which would probably aspire to an Oscar nomination more than the slightly disjointed screenplay. It's a pity there are some downright nonsensical moments that immediately stand out and somewhat diminish the credibility of the outlined world. Otherwise, though, this is a very stimulating movie, which probably still has to mature a bit before its time comes. 80% (13/01/2013)