FAMILIAL LOVE - THOUGH NOT QUITE AS YOU KNOW IT : "WINTER’S BONE"

As we all know probably far too well, families are complicated things. Sometimes all goes well, things are smooth and your family is your sanctuary from the big bad world outside. If things don’t quite go according to plan, you have each other to cling to. Other times, however, things are not so rosy or smooth. And the thing that upsets our lives the most is the family itself – bits of it if not the whole thing.

This is something 17 year old Ree (Jenniffer Lawrence) knows only too well. Her father is part of the local drug trade and therefore often “out of the picture” for one reason or another. Her mother is depressed and withdrawn. All Ree’s younger siblings have to depend on is their older sister who is a mother to all of them – including her own mother – living a very tough life in a poor, mountainous town. Their peaceful yet precarious existence will, however, be shattered by a visit from the local sheriff. In his latest brush with the law, Ree’s father has put their house up as collateral. This means that if he doesn’t turn up for his trial in a week’s time, the family will lose the house. And true to form, Ree’s father is nowhere to be found. So, to save her family, Ree sets out on a route that will bring her face to face with shady characters and members of her own family who tell her to just stay out of it. Staying out of it, however, is definitely not an option. Whether Ree will like the truth she finally uncovers however, is a different matter altogether.

First of all, I love the slightly gritty and tough take this film has on the concept of family. There are many rather beautiful examples of families rallying together in the face of danger, the self-sacrificing, protective “parent” figure and all that. The problem with that is that the films do have a slight “penchant” towards the saccharine. Not this one. Oh no. Ree is very, very real. Her affection for her siblings is more the “tough love” kind and she shows her love and dedication for her family not with frills, but by moving Heaven and Earth, putting herself in genuine danger, just to secure a home for her loved ones. Actions, after all, do speak louder than words. And in that sense, Ree is positively screaming.

The film is technically brilliant too. First of all, as you know Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar® winning character Tiffany annoyed me. Quite a bit. I love Ree. And it’s a credit to Lawrence that she is equally brilliant at portraying both. I mean, I guess I’m not saying she was bad as Tiffany, I’m just saying I enjoyed this a lot more. Imdb reliably informs me that this is only director Debra Granick’s second feature film. First of all, kudos to the fact that she has literally whipped the floor with her opposition in every festival and awards ceremony she was a part of. It always makes me happy to see strong female directors, as you may have noticed. I really look forward to seeing more of her stuff!