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The independent film Winter’s Bone opens nationwide today but it won’t be playing in Springfield until next week. The film, which is based on a book set in the Missouri Ozarks, won the grand jury prize earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s directed by New York filmmaker Debra Granik and is based on the book by West Plains author Daniel Woodrell. KSMU’s Missy Shelton recently spoke with Woodrell about the book and the movie.
Shelton: I’m interested in having you talk with me about the process of working with a filmmaker who’s taking something you’ve put sweat, blood, and tears into and translating it to the screen. Was that a painless or painful process?
Woodrell: It was not at all painful. The way this really got going was that I was sent a copy of Debra’s (Granik) first film. As soon as I saw that, I knew that she showed the kind of artistic integrity and fearlessness in dealing with the kind of material I do that I knew she’d probably be a very good choice for this. She and Anne Rosellini did the screenplay. They showed it to me fairly early on and there was nothing to complain about. It was all good. So, I was never really filled with fear about this. My only concern was would they be able to get the financing and all of those kinds of things.
Shelton: What about the fact that the director was coming from New York to the Ozarks. Did you have any concerns about her getting it right in terms of the authenticity of what you were trying to say in your book?
Woodrell: I didn’t because I had seen that first film and it’s set in a small town, rural part of New York state, which is pretty rural. I thought she’d just about gotten everything right on that. So, I wasn’t too concerned that she’d miss the picture here. I was pretty sure she’d get it.
Shelton: Do you have any concerns as this movie is being release nationwide that people will see and think, ‘That’s all there is to this part of Missouri?’
Woodrell: Yes. Whenever I go around with my books, I always try to work in my caveat, which is, this is a subculture, not the main culture. You could live here a long time and never have any serious interaction with this world. Or, if you’re wanting to participate, you can go find it. It’s there. Most of the Ozarks is, my daily life, is really tranquil, easy going, people are generous and kind, all those things you’d expect from small town life, they’re all there too in abundance. So, I do like to try to make sure people don’t get terrified of the region based on my imagination.
Shelton: What is it about this story, because it is a subculture that many people have never had an interaction with, but what is it about the story that transcends place and time, allowing people to connect with it?
Woodrell: I think it’s just simply struggle and the importance of family, and the important of when you’re in tough circumstances, stepping and doing your part to haul the wagon. Ree (Dolly) does that and I think that translates to probably every ethnic group and culture in the world. I know that this book was used in some high schools, and perhaps even junior highs in cities. I’ve heard from some of the teachers who said, ‘My inner city kids had no trouble understanding the dilemma she was in, empathizing with it, or recognizing it.
Shelton: So how has your life changed after Sundance and the film getting so much attention?
Woodrell: Well, it’s clear to me there’s more interest in the other books now as well as this one, so that’s definitely welcome.
Shelton: You are working on anther book…I don’t know how much you can tell us about that.
Woodrell: It’s not quite done and I’m a little superstitious about that.
Shelton: Do you feel more pressure as you wrap up that book because of what’s happened with Winter’s Bone?
Woodrell: Winter’s Bone surprised me in how well it was received critically and also the really enthusiastic readers it attracted. So, that did put a little bit of pressure on me. You don’t won’t to disappoint and yet you don’t want to do “Winter’s Bonier.” You don’t want to repeat yourself. You felt like a certain standard had been attained and you felt like you and your readers want you to maintain that, so it took a little adjusting.
