Winter’s Bone Close-Up (Closing Sequence)

Overview

The closing sequence of Winter’s Bone (Debra Granik, 2010) is a powerful yet subdued finale that harkens home the feminist ideology that pervades the film. Ree must perform the horrific act of cutting off her dead father’s hands which will serve as proof of his death. After taking the hands to the sheriff, Ree receives the money portion of her father’s bond. Teardrop visits the family one last timing, informing Ree that he knows who killed Jessop. The sequence and film ends with Ree, Ashlee, and Sonny sitting on the porch of their home, during which Ree reassures her siblings that she will always be there to support them.

The final shot of the film – Ree stares wistfully into the distance as Sonny looks to her for support. Ashlee plays the banjo, gifted to her by Teardrop

Key Elements, Context, and Representation

Throughout the film, Ree’s struggle against problems forced upon her by a patriarchal society is a central theme, and this is resolved through her ingenuity and resourcefulness. The only help that is offered to Ree is from the women in the community, further emphasising the feminist ideology of the film, as the men are portrayed as the root of all of the problems that Ree encounters. The narrative resolution of the film is highly unconventional, as the conflict is resolved through cooperation and discussion, rather than a typical violent ‘showdown’ that might occur in a stereotypical Hollywood flick. This unexpected narrative resolution subverts the conventions of a male-driven society, highlighting the idea that problems can be solved through trust and selfless actions. The entire narrative resolution is also female-oriented, reinforcing the feminist ideology of the film.

As Ree cuts off Jessop’s hands, he is ironically objectified, as he only exists as a corpse, subverting the typical male gaze and objectification of women throughout Hollywood. Ree is asked to perform a highly repugnant action, cutting off her father’s hands, but she rises to the challenge and overcomes it, further conveying the notion of female empowerment. During the scene in which Ree delivers Jessop’s hands to the police, the sheriff is ironically repulsed by the hands, but Ree is not, reinforcing the film’s feminist ideology. Ree also possesses leverage over the sheriff as he did not arrest Teardrop earlier in the film, which also contributes to this.

During the final scene, Teardrop gifts two chicks to the children, passing down the responsibility of parenthood. He also tells Ree that he knows who killed Jessop, implying that he is now fuelled by toxic masculinity in order to take action and seek revenge upon his brother. This highlights the idea that Teardrop’s misguided sense of loyalty is a negative force, and that it is ultimately through the actions of women that the problems in the film are resolved. In conclusion, the closing sequence is a poignant resolution to Ree’s story, subverting the typical narrative conventions of the finale of a typical Hollywood film.