Enter: Ree

I chose to analyze the opening of this film.  As the title comes onto the screen, the background is an open field, filled with dead grass, crooked trees, rusting metal, and trash.  The following shot is of two children playing, with a broken cabin behind them.  As the children skateboard, jump on their trampoline, and play with their dogs, you understand that is all they know.  They are content with their living situation because they have never seen or experienced anything better.  I quickly noticed the brief camera shots highlighting aspects of their living: tires scattered across the lawn, car seats used as benches, and everything seems dirty.  Throughout most outside scenes, gun shots could always be heard in the background, and the children never thought twice about it.  They grew up hearing those sounds, living the way they do.

Ree's entrance provides immediate insight into her personality.  Her first scene is of her hanging laundry out to dry as the kids play.  She is seen brushing her mother's hair and making a meal out of potatoes for her family.  From the first few scenes of the film, you know that Ree grew up the same way.  She faced the same struggles, but still tries to do the best for her family.  She showed care and attention to her little brother and sister, as a mother would.  Ree knows her own mother is not in the position to take care of a family and took the initiative.  Not far into the film, Ree gives up her horse because hay is too expensive and the money needs to go towards her family.  It appears she even gave up school to take care of the home (she is seen in the school dropping the siblings off, but only peeking into classrooms).  Because of her pride and care towards her family, Ree stops at nothing to gain the knowledge of what happened to her father in order to keep their home and land.