In the wild marshlands off southern Louisiana a six-year-old girl lives disconnected from her resource burning neighbours in the north.
The girl, Hushpuppy, shares a trailer with her father, Wink, who changed after Hushpuppy’s mother left. He can be cruel, but that cruelty is intended to prepare his daughter for a time when he is no longer able to protect her.
Wink becomes ill and nature stirs a flurry of disasters, temperature increases, rising water levels and hurricane-like winds.
Hushpuppy, played by Quvenzhané Wallis, is the central character in Beasts of the Southern Wild, the debut film from Benh Zeitlin. The film was adapted and co-written by playwright Lucy Alibar.
Wallis, the young heroine, takes the audience through the story of a bond between father and daughter. The film is the third in TheatreOne’s Fringe Flick series. It won the Grand Jury Prize and Best Cinematography award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
TheatreOne presents the film Sunday (Nov. 4) at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. and Monday (Nov. 5) at 7 p.m. at Avalon Cinema. Tickets are $12 or people can subscribe for eight films for $81.80. Tickets are available by calling 250-754-7587 or at www.theatreone.org.