Winter's Bone is about 17 year old girl named Ree living in the south with her two younger siblings and her mother. They are clearly living on meager means and must accept food from neighbors and give up their horse. When a police man arrives, he informs Ree that her father is missing and put their house up for bail. If he didn't show up to court, Ree and her family would lose their house, which is the only thing they really have. Ree is the one who cares for the family because her mother is mentally unstable and they haven't seen her father in months. In order to keep her family together, Ree enters into a world of highly secretive and violent drug dealers. Will she find her father in time to save her family?
This film is a brilliant example of how a lower budget independent film can be well made and well received. The beauty of this film is in the details. Many times in film, you see the set and costumes that have been carefully prepared over a period of days, weeks or, in some cases, months to years. In this film there was one point where I wondered if the actors were allowed to just wear their own clothes in the film. The sets and costumes in this film felt comfortable and sort of "occupiable". The worn jeans and remnants of a wasp nest in the light fixture lend the relationship to the film and the characters. Because I can't relate to the character's situation, the relatability of the places helps me feel connected to the film.
Although I felt this film has a lot to offer from entertainment and film making standpoints, I also felt like this film didn't really have much to say. I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out to me as being a particularly special film.
Entertainment- 6- not a whole lot actually happens in this film and it relies heavily on conversation.
Award-Worthy- 5- while there are a few technically interesting aspects to this film, I don't feel that it contributes anything really new or poignant to film as an art.
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