Winter’s Bone
Director: Debra Granik
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Garrett Dillahunt, Lauren Sweetser
How far would you go to protect the people you love? This is the question that Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) must ponder when her family’s very existence is threatened after her father in the aftermath of her father’s disappearance. Set in the pristine wilderness of the Missouri Ozarks, Winter’s Bone brings to light the story of a young woman’s courage and determination as she journeys through the darkest chasms of hell to discover the truth about her father’s fate and keep her family together.
Two things about this movie really stood out to me. First, there is a strict, unspoken law that is established in Ree’s family which dictates what is and is not accepted. When that code is violated, the consequences which follow are severe and absolute. Although she is warned several times that violating this code would not be tolerated, Ree’s desperate quest to find her father compels her to break the rules of silence and submission and results in her being severely attacked by her family who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to silence her. In the end, her determination to keep her family together allows Ree to discover the truth of her father’s fate.
The second thing that stood out to me is the intricate duality of love and intolerance that exists in the family’s hierarchy. Ree’s actions stem from the purest of motives: her desire to protect her family. In the aftermath of her father’s disappearance, Ree is forced into a terrible dilemma. To protect her mother and younger siblings Ree must find her father, but in order to do that, she must reveal her family’s secret – a secret that is so powerful that her family will do anything to keep it hidden. Ironically, although she carries the responsibility of being the parent in the family willingly, there is a part of Ree that yearns to break away from her duty as her family’s protector to follow her own path. One example of her doing this is her plan to join the army…a desire that is sought after but sadly denied. Another irony in Ree’s journey is while her family is willing to go to brutal lengths to silence her; they seem unwilling to go too far in order to subjugate her. They are willing to savagely beat her, (although it is considered) however, they are not willing to kill her to make their point heard.
Winter’s Bone is one of the most excruciatingly beautiful and emotionally powerful films that I have seen in my lifetime. The intricate marriage of exceptional casting, extraordinary music, and a story that is excruciatingly tender creates the foundation for an incredible film. Jennifer Lawrence shines in her character portrayal of Ree. This is by far one of the best performances I have seen her give to date. While this is not a movie for the faint of heart, I would still highly recommend it.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Debra Granik
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Garrett Dillahunt, Lauren Sweetser
How far would you go to protect the people you love? This is the question that Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) must ponder when her family’s very existence is threatened after her father in the aftermath of her father’s disappearance. Set in the pristine wilderness of the Missouri Ozarks, Winter’s Bone brings to light the story of a young woman’s courage and determination as she journeys through the darkest chasms of hell to discover the truth about her father’s fate and keep her family together.
Two things about this movie really stood out to me. First, there is a strict, unspoken law that is established in Ree’s family which dictates what is and is not accepted. When that code is violated, the consequences which follow are severe and absolute. Although she is warned several times that violating this code would not be tolerated, Ree’s desperate quest to find her father compels her to break the rules of silence and submission and results in her being severely attacked by her family who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to silence her. In the end, her determination to keep her family together allows Ree to discover the truth of her father’s fate.
The second thing that stood out to me is the intricate duality of love and intolerance that exists in the family’s hierarchy. Ree’s actions stem from the purest of motives: her desire to protect her family. In the aftermath of her father’s disappearance, Ree is forced into a terrible dilemma. To protect her mother and younger siblings Ree must find her father, but in order to do that, she must reveal her family’s secret – a secret that is so powerful that her family will do anything to keep it hidden. Ironically, although she carries the responsibility of being the parent in the family willingly, there is a part of Ree that yearns to break away from her duty as her family’s protector to follow her own path. One example of her doing this is her plan to join the army…a desire that is sought after but sadly denied. Another irony in Ree’s journey is while her family is willing to go to brutal lengths to silence her; they seem unwilling to go too far in order to subjugate her. They are willing to savagely beat her, (although it is considered) however, they are not willing to kill her to make their point heard.
Winter’s Bone is one of the most excruciatingly beautiful and emotionally powerful films that I have seen in my lifetime. The intricate marriage of exceptional casting, extraordinary music, and a story that is excruciatingly tender creates the foundation for an incredible film. Jennifer Lawrence shines in her character portrayal of Ree. This is by far one of the best performances I have seen her give to date. While this is not a movie for the faint of heart, I would still highly recommend it.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.