Beasts of the Southern Wild

Release date: June 27, 2012 (USA)

Director: Benh Zeitlin

Budget: 1.8 million USD

Awards: Caméra d'Or, MORE

Screenplay: Benh Zeitlin, Lucy Alibar

Beasts of the Southern Wild is set in Louisiana, in the Bayou. Young Quvenzhané Wallis plays Hushpuppy, a six year old girl living with her dad in the Bath Tub. The people that live in the Bath Tub are trying to restore their small village after Hurricane Katrina. Hushpuppy's dad is dying and won't tell anyone. Her mom ran away years ago. Hushpuppy lives in her own trailer, and her dad in another, until one day, she accidentally burns hers down. Reluctantly, Hushpuppy's dad allows Hushpuppy to live with him. He often comes off as mean and almost abusive, but then surprises the viewer with random acts of kindness. After Hurricane Katrina, he goes with a few other men from the village and blows up the damn. This allows the freshwater to wash back through the Bath Tub and get rid of the salt water from the storm. All the people in the Bath Tub are rounded up one day and forced to go live in a large shelter. However, after realizing that Hushpuppy's dad is dying, the village gets together and escapes back to the Bath Tub. Hushpuppy's dad dies in the Bath Tub, and she sends him off as he always wished: ablaze in their boat out on the water.