Americans love to ponder that hillbillies live parallel to, yet oddly separate from, contemporary society. Bonded by family, tradition and their own moral codes, mountain folk are inscrutable - and often outright hostile - to outsiders.
Winter's Bone dramatises how crystal meth has corroded Missouri's Ozark culture like a junkie's face. At 17, Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) cares for her two younger siblings and near-catatonic mother after her drug-cooking dad's disappearance. He'd used their house as bail bond collateral; the family will be homeless in a week unless Ree can track her dad down.
With the reluctant help of her paternal uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes), Ree asks fearless questions of a community who'd really rather she kept out of their business. Stoic Ree isn't initially sympathetic... but then her own feelings and hopes won't help her family survive.
That Ree considers joining the US Army purely for money reminded me of Lynndie England, another mountain girl with few options. Watching the wrenching grief of bereaved military families in The Messenger - also released this Remembrance Day - spotlights that Ree made the right choice. Hers is a quiet heroism, fuelled by her capacity for love.
What:
Winter's Bone
When:
At Palace from November 18
Watch Trailer:
Here
Win:
Thanks to Curious Distribution, we have 10 dbls to give away! To enter, email
brisbane.win@rightanglestudio.com.au with the subject line ‘Laura Palmer lives... in Missouri'
Australian Competitions Club
