MovieChat Forums > Winter's Bone (2010) Discussion > A Stark Reality of a Part of american Li...

A Stark Reality of a Part of american Life that is often lost

posted 10 years ago by villagevicarage-1
8 replies | jump to latest

I found Winter's Bone to be deeply moving. It brought to memory some of the people and families I worked with in the early eighties in the mountains of East Tennessee. I didn't read whether the torn up trailers, ramshackle houses, and spreads of detritus around the properties were a built set, or simply real. I suspect the latter.

However, the story-line, the characters, and the scenery were all excellent, vivid portrayals of the often ignored or forgotten part of american life in the south. I understand the same exists today throughout parts of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and perhaps even parts of the Carolinas and North Georgia.

Has there ever been any further initiatives to generate jobs and income for these strangled parts of the US, similar to the 'WPA' created for americans in 1938-1942? From what I remember reading, it was a resounding success and created millions of jobs and restoration where it was most needed.

Apologies, I only see what's on the news about the US, so I may be missing parts.

In any event, I found the film to be extremely powerful and moving.

[–] Squeegie_Beckenheim 10 years ago

They shot on location. Ree's house was actually the house the little sister lived in, in real life. The siblings are both locals not professional actors.

I love authenticity and the eye for detail Debra had with this film is a big part of why it is great.

Take me as I am, or leave me the way you found me

[–] Terrapin2212 10 years ago

The fact is since these people are mostly white they don't benefit from affirmative action and the dozens of benefits and scholarships that only blacks and Hispanics qualify for based on their race. Poor white and Asians have it the worst in America.

[–] inthepalemoonlight 10 years ago

The fact is since these people are mostly white they don't benefit from affirmative action and the dozens of benefits and scholarships that only blacks and Hispanics qualify for based on their race. Poor white and Asians have it the worst in America.

You're delusional. In America even poor whites tend to get better loans than blacks who are from a higher economic bracket. In America it has been reported and verified that poor white men with criminal records can get hired before a more qualified and educated black men with no criminal record. In America white people use and sell drugs at the same percentage rate (or more) as any other ethnic group and yet white people, including poor white people, are arrested and prosecuted far less than blacks and hispanics. I could go on and on. The references I make are from actual studies and anyone can Google them if they have their doubts. America has never been a harder place for whites regardless of their economic background. And let's make it clear that more white people (particularly white women) are on welfare than any other group of people and that the red states of America, one of which this movie takes place, are generally all welfare states which take out much more from the Federal government than they put in.

Millions of white people living in these states are living off of government "handouts" and yet they don't realize it, But then again those type of folks were never to bright and have always let their rich overlords tell them what to do and who to hate. That's why they vote against their own interests time and time again by voting for conservatives who will talk about values but allow all the money to get into the hands of the rich. Tax cuts and tax benefits for the wealthy (like the Walton Family) are all those Republican politicians care about and the poor dupes who live in their jurisdiction keep voting for them. They keep voting for them because those politicians and the right-wing media keeps spinning lies about the other side and make it seem as if any problems with their lives are the result of "others" who are taking things away from them. You can travel in some of those regions for hundreds of miles and never hear a liberal voice on the radio because the rich conservative media moguls who ensure that only certain voices are ever heard in those parts of the country. What a fine example of democracy at work there.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] kincaid-5 9 years ago

The film doesn't do as good a job as it might of showing that that the Dollys are not just poor. (Thump, who apparently deals in cattle -- probably stolen -- seems to be fairly well off.) They're criminals and have been for a century or more. Before they cooked meth, they grew pot, and before that, no doubt moonshine. At some point, they were probably into highway robbery. That bail bondsman makes his living writing bonds for Dollys.

The reason the men all have funny names is so that the family can tell them apart; officially, they're mostly either Milton or Jessup, so that the law can't keep track. I doubt they ever take entitlements, or vote, because that would involve giving up more info than they want.

The film could have been clearer on this.

http://redkincaid.com

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] crashdummy35 9 years ago

The fact is since these people are mostly white they don't benefit from affirmative action and the dozens of benefits and scholarships that only blacks and Hispanics qualify for based on their race. Poor white and Asians have it the worst in America.

#1) I'm sure they are lining up for college grants in the hollers. Not.

#2) There is plenty of government section 8 housing all throughout the Ozarks. Not in the hollers, those people own the land they live on.

#3) Drug convictions = no welfare. Ever. And if they ever pass that law where they'll drug screen welfare recipients, they are really screwed.

Also a holler is a valley between mountains or the base of a mountain.

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Get a clue what this movies about. It's about criminals and the hard world they live in. Not social injustice.

[–] lizcarlo87 10 years ago

Yes its very sad. I have some family who live this way. Its very authentic. The location was directed in Missouri. Some of the people in the movie live in the area as well. Its based off of a book. The author grew up in Missouri as well.