Winter's Bone

[Shuteye]

Just finished watching the movie, Winter's Bone. No kilts, but it is about modern life in the Ozarks, no punches pulled. It is saturated with the (sometimes perverted) code of the highlanders - outside of mainstream privileged society, very clannish. Nothing cutesy. I have not had a movie move me so much in a long time. Please don't let this one pass you by! Gonna buy it 'cause I have to own it.

[macwilkin]

Just finished watching the movie, Winter's Bone. No kilts, but it is about modern life in the Ozarks, no punches pulled. It is saturated with the (sometimes perverted) code of the highlanders - outside of mainstream privileged society, very clannish. Nothing cutesy. I have not had a movie move me so much in a long time. Please don't let this one pass you by! Gonna buy it 'cause I have to own it.

I'm not sure it depicts all modern life in the Ozarks, but it certainly depicts the ongoing problem of Meth that plagues many rural communities here. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I won't pass judgement on it, but I hope it doesn't add to the unfair stereotypes that have been perpetuated over the years against this region. When I taught an Ozarks culture class, I had my students read Ozarks Baptizings, Hangings and Other Diversions, by the late Robert Gilmore, a member of the Southwest Missouri State University Theatre department (that produced John Goodman and Kathleen Turner) -- Gilmore's research into 19th entertainment activities dispelled a lot of the notion that Ozarkers were an Andy Capp strip come to life.

Most of the original settlers around here were Ulster-Scots, not Highlanders.

TJW

[Shuteye]

I'm not sure it depicts all modern life in the Ozarks, but it certainly depicts the ongoing problem of Meth that plagues many rural communities here. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I won't pass judgement on it, but I hope it doesn't add to the unfair stereotypes that have been perpetuated over the years against this region.

I would venture that it doesn't, as it is not a broad brush depiction of the region. I hope you will post your impressions, TJW. Your input would be most interesting regarding the accuracy of the rural mountain life depicted in Winter's Bone. Is it stereotype hype or is it accurate (allowing for a wee dose of poetic license of course)? I, for one, would love to read your opinion. One aspect that gives this movie its impact is the lack of background music and the understated treatment of the emotional content. It deals with one small incident in one small valley, though a very powerful depiction nonetheless.

Being a physical therapist living in Fresno, in the heart of California's great central valley, I have the privilege of working with and getting to know migrant farm workers and ag workers from our small outlying towns. I speak Spanish so this helps me penetrate the protective veneer these patients initially present with. Poverty is a very real problem here also. So is meth (though not perpetuated by ag workers). Stereotypes regarding this segment of our population abound, and the news generally presents only the most violent, law breaking aspect of this segment of our population.

[CDNSushi]

I cannot, unfortunately comment on the accuracy of the film's portrayal of life in the rural Ozarks like Todd can. However, I HAVE seen this film. We had a screening with some friends and it's certainly a very intense movie.

When it comes to movies like this, I hesitate to say that I LIKE them, as the subject matter is very brutal, the outcomes are not at all happy or positive, but quietly disturbing and disjointed. Much the same way, I cannot in good conscience say that I LIKED The Passion of the Christ (dir. Mel Gibson). It's a powerful movie and I'm not sorry to have seen it. But it's also the type of film I would hesitate to own on DVD. It's not something I would pop into the player on a Saturday night for entertainment purposes. Seems almost twisted and somehow masochistic to do so.

Having said that, some things should be seen at least once. If Winter's Bone truly IS comparable to the clan system of the Scottish Highlands, the portrayal would certainly not be a romantic one, but very brutal, full of senseless expressions of some indecipherable code of honour that outsiders cannot relate to or understand, and acts of violence done in the name of the family or clan. If such a parallel is true, then the film is accurate.

Cinematically speaking, this movie is brilliantly directed, and the actors were exceptional. It is fully deserving of the awards it has received at the Berlin Film Festival, Sundance, Toronto, etc...

[macwilkin]

I cannot, unfortunately comment on the accuracy of the film's portrayal of life in the rural Ozarks like Todd can. However, I HAVE seen this film. We had a screening with some friends and it's certainly a very intense movie.

When it comes to movies like this, I hesitate to say that I LIKE them, as the subject matter is very brutal, the outcomes are not at all happy or positive, but quietly disturbing and disjointed. Much the same way, I cannot in good conscience say that I LIKED The Passion of the Christ (dir. Mel Gibson). It's a powerful movie and I'm not sorry to have seen it. But it's also the type of film I would hesitate to own on DVD. It's not something I would pop into the player on a Saturday night for entertainment purposes. Seems almost twisted and somehow masochistic to do so.

Having said that, some things should be seen at least once. If Winter's Bone truly IS comparable to the clan system of the Scottish Highlands, the portrayal would certainly not be a romantic one, but very brutal, full of senseless expressions of some indecipherable code of honour that outsiders cannot relate to or understand, and acts of violence done in the name of the family or clan. If such a parallel is true, then the film is accurate.

Cinematically speaking, this movie is brilliantly directed, and the actors were exceptional. It is fully deserving of the awards it has received at the Berlin Film Festival, Sundance, Toronto, etc...

It's generally getting good publicity in these parts; a number of local folks were involved in the production, and the local news media has been running a number of stories about the movie and the Oscars. As I said, I will hold my comments until I see it, but one point to make -- the film may very well be accurate. Meth is certainly a big problem around here, but not just in the rural areas -- occasionally a house in Springfield blows up or catches fire, and now we have mobile meth labs in vans. I even remember one that was clandestinely set up on the national park where I worked as a ranger.

Your description reminds me a lot of how I felt after watching "Hotel Rwanda". We own it on DVD, but it's not one I watch all the time.

T.

[xman]

... The Passion of the Christ ... Seems almost twisted and somehow masochistic ...

heh, Ain't that the truth. I actually felt relieved when they finally crucified him.

[Shuteye]

But it's also the type of film I would hesitate to own on DVD. It's not something I would pop into the player on a Saturday night for entertainment purposes.

I bought the movie today. I'll be watching it again. I don't want it to fade from my memory to be forever lost. Agreed, not a movie for Saturday popcorn night with the kids.

But .... this movie moves me much more so than "Braveheart" for instance. Teardrop's understanding of the "justice" in his brother's death, and his eventual full support of his brother's daughter, regardless of the danger involved, is moving. The eventual support of the opposing family's women to Ree (the daughter), even after beating her is also moving. That they let Ree have the bond money at the end of the movie is also moving. It can't be taken in the context of Mayberry USA, no doubt, but in my opinion this is a story of courage and dedication to family in the face of the very real violence of the meth trade in a world that doesn't give you an easy out.

If Winter's Bone truly IS comparable to the clan system of the Scottish Highlands, the portrayal would certainly not be a romantic one, but very brutal, full of senseless expressions of some indecipherable code of honour that outsiders cannot relate to or understand, and acts of violence done in the name of the family or clan. If such a parallel is true, then the film is accurate.

I would venture that such a parallel is true regarding much that happened in Scotland in the days of Rob Roy. Throughout Winter's Bone is the thread of a code of honor that outsiders would find hard to understand were they not given the insight the movie provides.

Cinematically speaking, this movie is brilliantly directed, and the actors were exceptional. It is fully deserving of the awards it has received at the Berlin Film Festival, Sundance, Toronto, etc...

Agreed 100%!

[Lallans]

I just want to peep in and mention that most of the Scottish culture in the area is probably derived from my folk, the Ulster-Scots, or if you will the Scots-Irish.

Why let the Highlanders take all the blame, I mean credit?

[macwilkin]

I just want to peep in and mention that most of the Scottish culture in the area is probably derived from my folk, the Ulster-Scots, or if you will the Scots-Irish.

Why let the Highlanders take all the blame, I mean credit?

Beat you to it, several posts back.

Not only the Ulster-Scots, but a fair amount of German folklore in these parts as well. There are several German communities within the borders of the Ozarks (which is a disputed subject among geographers), and noted Ozarks folklorist Vance Randolph even mentions some beliefs that may have originated from Cherokee and Osage Indians, although that as well was in dispute.

T.

[Lallans]

Beat you to it, several posts back.

T.

So you did- for some reason I had to look several times to find it, I guess because recogition is so rare and unexpected. Therefore, no harm in having it repeated three times.

No, let's make it four: Scots Irish, not Highlanders!