Overlooked Atlantic interview resurfaces: Benh Zeitlin says his raved-about new film is a statement
about people defending their homes, a depiction of a child's fantastical
reality, and a rebuke to meaningless indie filmmaking.
The Atlantic: "...It does seem that there's some kind of implied, not political
statement, but when you have the Bathtub put in opposition to this
horrible, smoky dystopia on the other side of the levee, and when the
government comes into the Bathtub and starts forcibly taking people from
their homes, you do get a somewhat anti-American message. Is there some
kind of political statement going on there, or is it just simple
juxtaposition?
Zeitlin: "I guess it is a political statement. People should not be forced to
leave their homes. The whole movie is about why you can't be pulled out
of your home.
The inspiration for making the film was the post-Katrina reaction of,
"Why do you still live here? Why can't you just move to St. Louis? This
is too dangerous. You shouldn't build there. This is a waste of money.
Why would you want to live there?" The Bathtub hopefully is an answer to
that question. Because this is the greatest place on earth. We have the
most freedom, we don't need money, we don't need all these things that
are thought of as necessary. We don't need that because we have this
place that feeds us both literally and spiritually.
Read the full interview: Here>> See also this update:
What Beasts of the Southern Wild Really Says>>