I think it had a great premise and interesting characters. But it left me wanting more. It shows how engaging I was with the film considering how long it was. But, at the same time, the ending felt abrupt.
Is Star done with that magazine selling life? Or is it the other way around? She’s come to accept it and is not comfortable being part of the group?
The movie doesn’t answer those questions. That’s what open-ended conclusions do. They leave it for you to decide.
Shia hands her the turtle. She puts the turtle in the water, releasing it. She goes into the water, rises out of it. Movie ends.
What does the turtle symbolize? What does it say that Crystal releases it into the water, follows it into the water, and then rises out of it? What does it mean? You decide.
I like to think the turtle represents the wild or feral nature of Crystal’s character, as she has no home or family. That’s why she can relate to or identify with the turtle; the wild or feral creature. Hence, she follows the turtle into the water and emerges from the water at the end to demonstrate her connection with the animal. Just as the turtle belongs in the water as a wild, free animal, Crystal belongs on the road with her peers, journeying around the squalors of the country; the ending thereby confirms that she made the right choice by leaving her prior life at home. Whether she will stay with these particular magazine-selling friends is unclear, but I think it’s implied that she will remain with similar people or groups for the rest of her life.
Another detail that the ending underscores is her kindness, as she humanely releases the turtle in the water as opposed to keeping it as a pet or releasing it near the road or grass to get killed. Remember, right before this, she had provided food to the children with the meth mother. So the ending further shows the kind of person she is, and gives some insight as to the sort of life she will live. What she will specifically do is unknown, but you can assume that she won’t end up in jail or live as a discreditable person.
You mean Starr not Chrystal
shareThere's a great film in there but I felt it was wasted on the romance stuff with Shia and Sasha Lane. I end up only giving it a 6/10, which is a shame cause it had so much potential but went down the wrong path for me.
For me, I would have done a film about Sasha Lane's character getting out of a abusive relationship and wanting to find a new family and finds it with rag tag family. I would have shown it with these group of interesting characters, with Riley Keough and Shia LaBeouf been like the mum and dad of the group. Having Sasha mix with the other's and become like a mum and friend to them. They had so many interesting characters in the film but decided to make it all about Shia and Sasha romance. I would have cut the romance out of it.
We barely get to know the rest of the gang, and I didn't like the romance subplot. Really wanted to know more about Riley Keough's character. Such a shame really.