The unquestioned darling of the Sundance Film Festival wasn't The Raid, or Safety Not Guaranteed, or even Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer. No, it was a movie almost nobody had heard of with a deceptively simple look that completely hides the magic within. That film was Beasts of the Southern Wild, and it completely took Sundance by storm, taking home the Grand Jury Prize at the event and placing first-time director Benh Zeitlin on everyone's "must watch" list.
The film follows 6-year old Hushpuppy(the remarkable Quvenzhané Wallis), who lives in a rundown bayou community with her sickly father, Wink. When he falls gravely ill, Hushpuppy must rely on her own strength and courage to survive the harsh times on the horizon, braving a world where literal prehistoric beasts roam, in an effort to find her wayward mother.
Due to compete at Cannes this year, Fox Searchlight has heard the buzz and set a release date for June 29th, where it may be swallowed up by a mountain of summer blockbusters. However, we tend to see one indie breakout per season, and if considering the tons of praise Beasts of the Southern Wild has already earned, this may be it. The trailer, released today, shows the beautiful blend of realism and fantasy that is at the film's core. Check it out below....
