Sony Pictures Releasing presents the novel adaptation of Where The Crawdads Sing (2022) starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as ‘Kya Clark’. Where The Crawdads Sing was thoroughly entertaining, unlike anything I have recently seen in the theaters, and tells the story of an abandoned young girl raising herself in the depths of the Carolina marsh. The murder mystery tale is a bone tingling one and is a unique female perspective on surviving against all odds.
Where The Crawdads Sing tells the story of ‘Kya’ surviving in the wild but it is told in such an ethereal, haunting fashion that it leaves an imprint on you when you walk out of the cinema. This film’s success highlights the demand for independent films offering an alternative perspective to what is commonly seen in mainstream media. The narrative scratches beyond the surface, delving into the traumatic repercussions of familial abandonment and the human condition, with a subdued colour palette and eerie musical score as an undercurrent.
This film may not be for everyone but it has already found an audience and a following, and there will be many more that will be delighted to discover this film. Too often we see rinse repeat narratives, remakes or the never ending Marvel Cinematic Universe release yet another picture, it is time to spotlight independent voices giving an alternative perspective and with production companies like Hello Sunshine this is becoming more possible.
The meaning behind the title is explained in the film but you don’t have to know every detail about the film before going in. The theme behind Where The Crawdads Sing, of one woman’s survival alone in the wilderness, is not often depicted in mainstream media and with the success of the box office sales it goes to show it is one worth exploring. It is worth noting the work done behind the scenes with Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine in order for this feature film to be brought into fruition. Hello Sunshine focuses on bringing female narratives to the forefront and I intend on keeping a close eye on their work moving forward to see what other hidden gems they bring to the theaters.
Joanna Letic