Beasts of the Southern Wild

'Beasts of the Southern Wild" is a great and touching movie. When I first started watching the movie I was confused. I was thinking how can this movie be classified or viewed as a black film.  The story line in the beginning was very confusing at first for me to grasp. After watching more of the movie I began to realize the story line spoke not only to one particular group of people but many. This film brings a universal message about acceptance of life and things we cannot change,but still try to. Also, how the lessons you learn in life help you to gain understanding and progression as an individual.   The film takes place during Hurricane Katrina. You meet this tough little girl, living in poverty, without a mother, with her only parent and role model being her  alcoholic, and maybe even bi polar father. She is taught many adult lessons at an early age that she may have not fully understood but attempted too.

 This movie revealed a real message. It shows the value of togetherness in a family and community facing overwhelming odds. In the movie Hush Puppy searches for her absent mother as well as answers to things she does not understand. We as human beings do the same. Constantly searching for answers and for things we need, but can't always get. In the movie Hush Puppy greets the answers she finds with gratitude, instead of with bitterness and anger. She accepts the death of her father with sadness, but also with the understanding that death is apart of life. The prehistoric monster figures from her imagination are in a sense death which towards the end of the movie she no longer fears it but looks at death as her friend.

Overall, the film is a good film. It shows the story of a survivor, the uncommon hero. Learning life lessons at an age earlier than most, from a dying father who knew of his impending fate. Trying to prepare his daughter the best way he knew.  All things that grab an audience and make them fall in love with the main character. The film ends on a sweet but bitter note. It left me questioning what exactly will happen to Hush Puppy now? Will she experience any psychological damage in her adult life?  She just like many other children have to grow up too fast and learn life lessons that may ultimately affect them throughout life.

After watching Beasts of the Southern Wild you  realize it was never a black film.  It did portray certain problems and issues African Americans face. However each character especially the main one did carry a common want and need that most human beings desire. Knowledge, we all desire to learn, search, and discover the unknown. Build up knowledge of things that cannot be explained, and things we cannot understand. Only in the end finding out that we understood and knew all along. This movie is a great watch and inspiring tale, and if viewers open their minds and hearts the same way as Hush Puppy, they will be sure to gain a new understanding on life as well.