“Where the Crawdads Sing” (WTCDS) is an adaptation of the bestseller of the same name, written by Delia Owens. Although I never read the book, now I wish I had. Friends have told me that the film is faithful to the novel. The movie is loved by fans (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), but loathed by critics (only 34%). I wasn’t planning to see it, since the critics’ score was so low, but everyone who I knew who had seen it thought it was great. Robin and I thought it was a terrific movie, and I think it will probably wind up in my Top 10 for the year. To modify an old cliché, “What do critics want?”
Catherine “Kya” Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a girl in her early 20’s, lives isolated from the nearby town of Barkley Cove in the marshlands of North Carolina. She is scorned by the townspeople and known as the “Marsh Girl.” Rumors have it that she was romantically linked with Chase Andrews (Harris Dickenson), who was found dead in October 1969. Murder is suspected, and Kya is arrested almost immediately after Chase’s body is found. Fortunately, a retired lawyer, Tom Milton (David Strathairn), agrees to defend her.
The film then flashbacks to Young Kya (Jo Jo Regina). Her father is an emotionally- and physically-abusive alcoholic. He is impossible to live with, so, eventually, her mother – soon followed, one by one, by all of her siblings – leaves Kya as the only child left. Eventually, even her father abandons her, too. When Kya is finally all alone, she is still only a teenager, but she eventually learns how to survive in the marshes. She is helped by a Black couple that owns a small grocery store in town. However, Kya remains uneducated and illiterate.
Kya is befriended by Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), who teaches her how to read. I won’t say any more about the plot, but it’s an interesting one, with some curve balls. It’s a love story/murder mystery hybrid. Edgar-Jones is fantastic and should be nominated for an AA. The rest of the cast is excellent, too. The cinematography (by Dolly Morgan) is, at times, breathtaking.
This is a great story about love, survival, attachment, loss, and especially resilience. It’s a MUST-SEE, as far as I’m concerned. Despite the critics, I’m going to “sing” the praises of “WTCDS!”
"Where the Crawdads Sing" (WTCDS) is an adaptation of the bestseller of the same name, written by Delia Owens. Although I never read the book, now I wish I had. Friends have told me that the film is faithful to the novel. The movie is loved by fans (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), but loathed by critics (only 34%). I wasn't planning to see it, since the critics’ score was so low, but everyone who I knew who had seen it thought it was great. Robin and I thought it was a terrific movie, and I think it will probably wind up in my Top 10 for the year. To modify an old cliché, "What do critics want?" Catherine "Kya" Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a girl in her early 20's, lives isolated from the nearby town of Barkley Cove in the marshlands of North Carolina. She is scorned by the townspeople and known as the "Marsh Girl." Rumors have it that she was romantically linked with Chase Andrews (Harris Dickenson), who was found dead in October 1969. Murder is suspected, and Kya is arrested almost immediately after Chase's body is found. Fortunately, a retired lawyer, Tom Milton (David Strathairn), agrees to defend her. The film then flashbacks to Young Kya (Jo Jo Regina). Her father is an emotionally- and physically-abusive alcoholic. He is impossible to live with, so, eventually, her mother – soon followed, one by one, by all of her siblings – leaves Kya as the only child left. Eventually, even her father abandons her, too. When Kya is finally all alone, she is still only a teenager, but she eventually learns how to survive in the marshes. She is helped by a Black couple that owns a small grocery store in town. However, Kya remains uneducated and illiterate. Kya is befriended by Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), who teaches her how to read. I won't say any more about the plot, but it's an interesting one, with some curve balls. It's a love story/murder mystery hybrid. Edgar-Jones is fantastic and should be nominated for an AA. The rest of the cast is excellent, too. The cinematography (by Dolly Morgan) is, at times, breathtaking. This is a great story about love, survival, attachment, loss, and especially resilience. It's a MUST-SEE, as far as I'm concerned. Despite the critics, I'm going to "sing" the praises of "WTCDS!"
Where the Crawdads Sing: Resilience of the Human Spirit
Where the Crawdads Sing: Resilience of the Human Spirit
2022-08-03
David
85
8.5
AA Performance By Daisy Edgar-Jones!
Uplifting Story About Overcoming Adversity!
User Rating : No Ratings Yet !
9
