The primary character Connie, played by Jennifer Lawrence, in Winter’s Bone, boldly displayed how the fortitude of family is the marrow of her existence.
Throughout this film we are invited to witness scene after scene of Ree’s relentless drive towards both finding answers to her father’s disappearance, and through this hopeful discovery, the means to provide a sustainable existence for her two siblings.
There were many monotone, yet effective moments of her bravado the hero. But one that stood out for me was when Ree was confronted on her porch by some of the opposing family women, who she had the greatest hatred for, and brought, with blind faith, to the location of her father’s corpse. I consider the confrontation at the door plus the following scene of her physically locating her fathers sunken body, including the removal of his arms, to be the pinnacle dramatic moment in her quest for truth and family.
The tone was hopeful, yet dark for both the character and the viewer, as so much had drawn dead ends up until this point. As the viewer, there’s a chance that one could start to feel like Ree in that there was a high possibility of her being killed by going with the women. But a person either in her shoes or watching her scenes play out, might not have cared, just to see this endless field of question marks finally find an end, good or bad.
Yet, upon discovering that it was indeed Ree’s father, as she recognized his hands, we see her need to go even deeper into her already raw levels of emotion and have to hold his arms while they are sawed off. Clearly Ree wanted the moment to end as fast as it began as she let the body drop back in the water, only to discover that she needed to retrieve him once again.
There is a relief in Ree placing the arms of her rather in the boat, like a rotten tooth that has finally been removed so that no more poison can be taken in. From beginning to end, we can clearly see that Ree’s personality is unbending and forward in movement, clearly showing her obvious determination for the small lives that depended upon her. If this determination were any less in form, she would more than likely not have been able to acquire all the knowledge and answers she did.
This scene was very full of raw emotion as you put it! I saw it as a scene in which Ree was very strong, but also very emotional and vulnerable at the same time. I liked your metaphors! Definitely a very powerful and dramatic scene!
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching the movie I knew what our assignment was for the week and would write down little notes when things struck me. After reading about the scene you chose I was stunned by the fact that I had not even taken it into consideration as one of those tell all moments. I think I was so shocked by the whole idea of her having to go through the steps of proving her father dead by helping to dismember his body that I overlooked it's significance. I am glad you chose such a powerful portion of the movie to write about. I think it will definately make everyone think about the character of Ree's strength.
ReplyDeleteThis scene was very important, it was the scene we all were waiting for to happen. When Ree was able to find her father and to prove way he didn't show to court in the first place. I was completely cut off guard when they told her she had to go in and get her father and then when they asked her to cut his hands off I was actually crying. This was a moving moment in this movie for sure. The raw emotion that you don't really get from any movie lately. I feel that's what your saying in your piece blood is thicker and even though she didn't want to she had to for her family and for her father to end the pain.
ReplyDeleteI will follow along with the ladies in agreement that this truly was the pivotal part of the movie showing Ree's strength and determination. It is unimaginable that she had to go through such lengths just to establish her father's death. Not know whether her family was going to kill her and send her to her watery grave or really give her a means to support her fathers' death. I was not sure until she actually grasped his hand that their ulterior motives were sincere. What ever their reasons were it is a happy ending to a very sad and dark story.
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