**_The hardships of living in the wilds of Florida back in the day_**

A couple (Peter Strauss and Jean Smart) and their young son (Wil Horneff) face the challenges of life in the Big Shrub, aka Ocala National Forest in north-central Florida. The things they deal with include a troubling bear, a rattlesnake bite, a flood, and their moonshining neighbors (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brad Greenquist, etc.).

“The Yearling” (1994) sticks close to the 1938 classic novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, except for two things: It transports the events from the post-Civil War years to the Great Depression and it (wisely) omits Jody’s attempted canoe trip to Boston at the end.

While it’s a wilderness drama/adventure, it’s reminiscent of a Western in ways. Speaking of which, 1966’s “The Night of Grizzly” featuring Clint Walker was obviously inspired by Rawlings’ book. While I like that flick, this is the better film, regardless of whether it was made-for-TV.

What makes it so good? For one, it successfully puts the viewer in that time and place with authentic locations (no studio sets or SoCal locations like in the 1946 version with Gregory Peck). The cast members really get into their characters, augmented by their grubby clothes and discolored teeth; they’re totally believable.

Furthermore, amidst the depressing happenings are warmhearted bits, like the love of the father and son. Plus, the melee at the town party perks up the story and is well done. I’ve been to such get-togethers in real life where the locals assemble for food & drink and things like what transpires in the story really happen. Consider Lem Forrester (Greenquist), we all know troublemakers just like him.

It runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in the Ocala National Forest area at Silver Springs State Park and Juniper Prairie Wilderness.

GRADE: B+/A-