Rent Eve's Bayou (1997)
3.7 of 5 from 58 ratings
1h 49min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
"The summer I killed my father, I was ten years old...So begins Kasi Lemmons's spellbinding feature debut, an evocative journey into the maze of memory, steeped in fragrant southern-gothic atmosphere. In 1960s Louisiana, a young girl (Jurnee Smollett) sees her well-to-do family unravel in the wake of the infidelities of her charming father (Samuel L. Jackson) - setting in motion a series of deceptions and betrayals that will upend her world and challenge her understanding of reality. Rooted in Creole history, folklore, and mysticism, 'Eve's Bayou' is a scintillating showcase for a powerhouse ensemble of Black actresses - including Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan, and the legendary Diahann Carroll as a voodoo priestess - as well as a profoundly cathartic exploration of trauma, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of truth. - Actors:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Meagan Good, Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan, Jake Smollett, Ethel Ayler, Diahann Carroll, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Roger Guenveur Smith, Lisa Nicole Carson, Branford Marsalis, Afonda Colbert, Lola Dalferes, Marcus Lyle Brown, Alverta Perkins Dunigan, Ron Flagge, Sharon K. London, Carol Sutton, Victoria Rowell
- Directors:
- Kasi Lemmons
- Producers:
- Caldecot Chubb, Samuel L. Jackson
- Narrated By:
- Tamara Tunie
- Writers:
- Kasi Lemmons
- Genres:
- Drama
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 31/10/2022
- Run Time:
- 115 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour and B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary on the directors cut featuring Lemmons, Vincent, producer Caldecot Chubb, and editor Terilyn A. Shropshire
- Dr. Hugo (1996), a short film Lemmons made as a proof of concept for Eve's Bayou, in a new 4K digital transfer
- New interview with Lemmons
- Cast reunion footage
- Interview with composer Terence Blanchard
- New program showcasing black-and-white Polaroids that Vincent took during production
- Cast and crew photographs by William Eggleston
- Trailer
- Disc 1:
- This disc includes the following:
- Director's Cut - Disc 2:
- This disc includes the following:
- Theatrical - Release Version
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Reviews (1) of Eve's Bayou
Strong performances But....? - Eve's Bayou review by GI
A gothic melodrama set in early 60s Louisiana where it follows the family of a local black family led by the doctor father, Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and with the story seen through the eyes of his middle child, Eve (June Smollett). Her mother is the beautiful yet superstitious, Ron (Lynn Whitfield) and her Aunt (Debbi Morgan) claims to be able to read minds. The story centres around Eve witnessing her philandering father having sex with another woman or at least that's what she thinks she sees, and a revelation by her older sister. It's a coming of age narrative that focuses on the confusion of children trying to make sense of the adult world. In many ways it's a similar theme to Atonement (2007) but this one lacks the strength of that film's tragic outcomes, although there is tragedy here, and the fantastical elements of the film are distracting even if you take the view that it's just adults further confusing children. However this is unravelled by the viewer it's a film that has some great cinematography and strong performances but it plays as a languid and non committal film that never raises its game.
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