Every so often I see a film that blows me away, and quite often this coincides with the presence of a stellar soundtrack. Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild did indeed blow me away, and the soundtrack (for which he is jointly responsible) is indeed excellent.
The film revolves around the inhabitants of Bathtub, a fictional island off Louisiana. Six year-old Hushpuppy (played by Quvenzhane Wallis, who received an Oscar nomination for the part) has to cope with an unwell and increasingly volatile father, an apocalyptic storm and an apathetic world. There are clear Katrina hints and environmental themes, but there is also a beautiful story about family here too. It is so refreshing to see something that explores our relationship with the environment that does not paint everybody as evil or weak or vain. This film is upbeat despite the undeniably bleak message, it is something that celebrates our existence rather than condemning it. For me the film says: yes, humanity is to blame for a vast amount of damage and suffering (ecological or otherwise), but there is optimism in single humans, in individuals. Humans can be resiliant and tenacious and loving, and these are the very characteristics that can save us.
Anyway, back to the soundtrack. It was co-produced by Dan Romer and director Benh Zeitlin. The music, which is for the most part minimalist, feels part of the very fabric of the visuals and the story, as if the narrative could have been woven from the music just as easily as it was created the other way around. I’m not sure whether it is a completely fair observation (as I’m sure most movie composers work closely to match their work with the film in question) but I felt that it was apparent that the director had helped score his own film.
It’s simple, just like the lives of the people of Bathtub. There is no flashy instrumentation, no thundering of a grand orchestra, just evocative and masterfully thought out music that adds an extra dimension to Hushpuppy’s view of her world. There are tracks that feature Cajun music (such as The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Leroy “Happy Fats” LeBlanc and the Balfa Brothers) and these are surrounded by the usually minimalist soundtrack, successfully portraying them as something Hushpuppy experiences in between or as well as her own mental soundtrack (i.e. the main soundtrack to the film). It is a clever concept that I’d guess would come across much better if you have seen the film.
Get the soundtrack from iTunes and the other usual places and have a listen on Spotify (boo!). Try and see the film if you can, it is a joyous watch. Check out the trailer below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA6FFnjvvmg]