In the film Beasts of the Southern Wild, six-year-old Hushpuppy resides in a poverty-stricken, desolate area known as the Bathtub, which is a fictional rendering of a southern Louisiana Bayou community.

Having never left the area, Hushpuppy’s surroundings consist solely of violence and struggle. She lives with her father, Wink, an ill-tempered man with deteriorating health. As conditions around Hushpuppy worsen, she must face the unforeseen reality of losing her father and living independently.

In the opening moments of the movie, we are shown that the Bathtub is a territory cut off from the rest of the world. We aren’t, however, given any insight as to why it has been isolated. We learn that Hushpuppy is a nature-loving, adventurous girl. Furthermore, we see her community’s appalling standard of living — every resident is impoverished.

Hushpuppy is black, though the people of Bathtub belong to various ethnicities. It’s intriguing to see how they’ve banded together, setting aside racial differences. In our modern world, race has a large influence on who we socialize and interact with, but in the Bathtub, everyone is united because they have a common goal: survival.

Hushpuppy’s rebellious side is demonstrated when, after an argument with her father, she intentionally sets her house on fire and hides. While hiding, she says to herself, “If Daddy kill me, I ain’t gonna be forgotten. In a million years, when kids go to school, they’re gonna know once there was a Hushpuppy who lived with her daddy.” This shows us her state of mind. She wants to be known and remembered. She knows that the world is bigger than what she’s experienced. The act of burning her house is perhaps a manifestation of internal frustration due to isolation.

Hushpuppy is continuously challenged by Wink, who is almost always under the influence of alcohol. Wink forces Hushpuppy to participate in things a child wouldn’t normally have to do, like hunting for food. Wink does this because he knows he is dying and Hushpuppy must grow up by herself. Eventually, the Bathtub is flooded and destroyed; the survivors start living together as a single force. Food becomes scarce as wildlife is decimated by the flood. Miles away, prehistoric creatures are unleashed from dormancy as the ice caps around them melt.

The movie vividly shows the importance of community and how it influences our minds. The people of the Bathtub cannot adjust to the outside world. The complex relationship of Hushpuppy and Wink illustrates the primacy of family — despite their differences, they need each other to survive.

The cinematography of the movie, when compared to other films of its time, is not up to the mark. Although the destruction and harsh conditions of the Bathtub are depicted well, there are a few poorly edited scenes. For instance, the film includes images of wildlife that weren’t shot on the same set or by the same filmmakers, which both deceives the audience and makes the story seem fake.

The actress Quvenzhane Wallis did an outstanding job in her role of Hushpuppy. Wallis did not let being a child actor limit her performance. It is remarkable to see a nine-year-old act at such a high level. Wallis internalized her role and managed to embody Hushpuppy’s conflicted state of mind. Dwight Henry also did a remarkable job as Wink, a complex character who is always frustrated. Henry did not lose the essence of his character. He was able to show Wink’s personality despite the character’s drunken, dazed mindset.

My overall rating of the movie is four out of five stars. I am detracting one star because I feel the low budget compromised the movie experience. The movie lacks the necessary quality to wholly convince the audience. I recommend families watch the film. It is an age-appropriate movie: nothing untoward is encouraged, and the story is suitable for a younger audience.

Beasts of the Southern Wild is a unique movie that focuses on the importance of community and guiding figures, topics usually untouched by filmmakers.