Even though she is only 17, Ree has forsaken everything in order to take care of her sick mother and her two younger siblings. She has quit school, as well as any social life that a normal girl her age would have. To top it off, her dad is involved in drugs and out of their lives, and her mother is mentally ill and unable to take on any responsibility. Ree seeks help from a few family members regarding the whereabouts of her father, but because no one wants to get involved, her questions are received with anger and frustration.
During the whole movie we see Ree being a girl who takes on all these responsibilities without complaining, in fact when her brother suggests that they should ask their neighbor for some food, she responds with: "don't ask for what should be offered."
When she has done everything she can and still hasn't found her father, we see her break down, but it turns out to be a beautiful scene. It's beautiful because we finally realize that this is not how it should be. Ree has done such an incredible job parenting her siblings and taking care of the house that we have forgotten that she is a child.
In the scene, Ree is walking her mother out of the house and into the woods. They sit down in the middle of nowhere and she unravels. While crying, she begs her mom for help. "Mamma, tell me what I should do." The request is received with silence. Ree continues to cry and asks again, "Just this once mamma, tell me, I don't know what to do."
Her mom doesn't speak.
She asks for help, which is how redemption starts, but unfortunately that's as far as it goes.
Her mom doesn't speak.
She asks for help, which is how redemption starts, but unfortunately that's as far as it goes.
