NY/LA Opening: BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, a Magical Experience

Richly acclaimed since its world premiere at Sundance in January, Beasts of the Southern Wild opens tomorrow, June 27, in New York and Los Angeles.

It's the story of a father and his daughter, living in a community known as The Bathtub, a watery settlement in the southern United States. For a time, they share a precarious, magically realististic experience, and then things change, and nothing will be the same.

In his Sundance review, our own Ryland Aldrich wrote in part:

Beasts of the Southern Wild is one of those films that is a challenge to discuss because it is so rewarding to experience with fresh eyes. [Director Benh] Zeitlin has no doubt captured lightning in a bottle with his whimsical and heartfelt story about a place that feels like it's on the edge of the world. This is this kind of fresh vision that rekindles one's passion for independent cinema. The Bathtub creates the perfect setting for this exploration of an unknown world, but the sincere story of love between a parent and child is universal.

Having seen the film recently, I heartily agree with Ryland's sentiments; it's one of my favorites of the year so far, featuring imagery and a musical score that lingers long after the final credits roll.

After opening in New York and Los Angeles, the film will roll out across the U.S. in the coming weeks. It opens in Canada on July 13.