An adaptation of Daniel Woodrell’s novel of the same name, “Winter’s Bone” offers a glimpse into the stark reality of American poverty. A center for meth production in the United States, the Ozark Mountains are the backdrop of director Debra Granik’s latest film.
In the midst of this drug trade, 17-year-old Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) tries to disassociate herself from her grim surroundings and do well by her family, providing for her two younger siblings in the absence of a meth-dealing father.
As the cops threaten to dislocate her family from their home, Ree is forced to probe into the dark crevices of the Ozark Mountains and find her wanted father.
It is quite the ordeal for a girl, who at her age should still be concerned with math tests and English papers. Jennifer Lawrence puts on a tremendous performance as Ree, both as a strong feminine figure and struggling journeyman.
Constantly rejected by abusive uncles and hostile relatives, Ree is given little help in the pursuit for her father and only plunges into deeper troubles as she trudges onwards.
As she teaches her siblings how to shoot a gun and gut a squirrel, an eerie tension is created as it becomes readily apparent that Ree can die at a moment’s notice. Yet Lawrence’s perseverance allows her character to believably take each obstacle in stride.
As the film goes on, the focus of the story backs away from Ree’s search for her father and centers more on her developing character as she matures much beyond her years.
A poignant reflection of what a sector of America must endure on a daily basis, “Winter’s Bone” is one of the year’s best and should not be missed, if not for its gripping portrayal of reality, but for Lawrence’s breakout performance.
