Mini Film Review – Winter’s Bone

Yesterday I watched Winter’s Bone; and it was pretty good! Directed by Debra Granik, and starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, and Garret Dillahunt; Winter’s Bone is a coming-of-age mystery drama based on the book of the same name by Daniel Woodrell. The film follows the life of a seventeen year old girl, as she takes care of her family, whilst also looking for her missing father; who has put up the house as part of his bail bond. It was an interesting film, it puts me sort of in mind of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, as it shows this rural world away from the big towns and cities, and highlights a community, which follows it’s own strict rules and codes. But it’s not a journey film, or one that goes on a journey; as Ree (Lawrence) has to go find her father, but still needs to care for her family living on the edge of homelessness. The film finds time to show rural cruelty, but still has moments where a peace and serenity can be found, with some wonderfully sweet moments too. But, it does leave this constant wonder, that this is not going to last! And as s time ticks by, you feel like an anti-climactic, or more likely sad ending is incoming. It does sort of wrap it all up though, but still allows this ominous level of mystery hanging around too!