Eve's Bayou

Plot

The story is set in 1962 Louisiana. The big Batiste family is headed by charming doctor Louis. Though he is married to beautiful Roz…

Release Year: 1997

Rating: 7.1/10 (4,863 voted)

Critic's Score: 78/100

Director:
Kasi Lemmons

Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Jurnee Smollett, Meagan Good

Storyline
The story is set in 1962 Louisiana. The big Batiste family is headed by charming doctor Louis. Though he is married to beautiful Roz, he has a weakness for attractive women patients. One day Louis is flirting with married and sexy Metty Mereaux, not knowing that he is observed by his youngest idealistic daughter Eve, who is there by accident. Eve can not forget the incident which is traumatic for her naivete and shares a secret with older sister Cisely. Lies start to roll…

Cast:

Jurnee Smollett
–

Eve Batiste

Meagan Good
–

Cisely Batiste

Samuel L. Jackson
–

Louis Batiste

Lynn Whitfield
–

Roz Batiste

Debbi Morgan
–

Mozelle Batiste Delacroix

Jake Smollett
–

Poe Batiste

Ethel Ayler
–

Gran Mere

Diahann Carroll
–

Elzora

Vondie Curtis-Hall
–

Julian Grayraven

Roger Guenveur Smith
–

Lenny Mereaux

Lisa Nicole Carson
–

Matty Mereaux

Branford Marsalis
–

Harry

Afonda Colbert
–

Henrietta

Lola Dalferes
–

Lynette

Marcus Lyle Brown
–

Hosea

Taglines:
The secrets that hold us together can also tear us apart.

Details

Official Website:
Trimark |

Release Date: 7 November 1997

Filming Locations: Covington, Louisiana, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $6,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $3,287,846
(USA)
(9 November 1997)
(659 Screens)

Gross: $14,821,531
(USA)
(8 March 1998)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Jurnee and Jake are brother and sister in real life.

Goofs:

Anachronisms:
The movie takes place in 1962, but, there is a 1964 Ford sedan in front of the house in the opening sequence.

Quotes:

Elzora:
Sometimes a soldier fall on his own sword…

User Review

Memory is a selection of images, some elusive, others printed indelibly on the brain.

Rating:

This is director Kasi Lemmons' first film and she has entered the world
of cinema with a very bold start. Eve's Bayou is a very passionate
story about life and love with a family surrounded by dark secrets.
Lemmons' has boldly introduced us to a world in which magic is obvious
and characters are deeply developed. There isn't one actor in this film
that you do not fully appreciate. Everyone in this film gives
everything that they have to help create this hidden masterpiece. Roger
Ebert named this film the best of 1997, and I agree whole-heartedly.
What makes this film different from other films of this nature is that
Lemmons keeps us grounded. We are constantly reminded of where we are
and whom we are dealing with. There is not some outside element trying
to sneak in and disrupt the peace; it is a completely internal movie
that allows us to devote ourselves to this desperate family. She
controls Jackson with the greatest of ease, and gives us one of the
most powerful child performances ever. If I had the chance to give the
Oscar to Jurnee Smollett for her role of Eve in this film, I would have
gladly handed it to her. Her performance commanded the film. She was
the strongest and most beautifully developed character in this film.
Smollett was outstanding. I have never been so impressed with a child
actor as I was with her in this film. Her eyes gave us all the drama
that we needed. I never thought that I would witness acting in its
purest form come from a child. For anything, this film is worth seeing
just for the performance of Smollett. She literally steals the scenes
from everyone, even Mr. Jackson.

I mentioned earlier that I loved the fact that this film kept us
grounded by continually showing us scenes from the bayou. It kept our
minds focused on where we were and the environment that surrounded
these troubled people. Amazingly, Lemmons has transformed this setting
into more than just a place, she has given it life. Not only through
our characters, but it also is the center of most of the magic that
occurs. It is a very symbolic reference. A bayou is a creek or a
secondary waterway that is a passageway to another larger body of
water. In this film, Eve represents the bayou as she travels to her
family, the larger body of water. Also, whenever Mozelle calls upon the
'spirits' her first sight is of the bayou. Lemmons may be saying that
the bayou is more than just water, it is the center of everyone's
universe in this town. Perhaps it has more meanings, but I really felt
that Lemmons was using the bayou as more than just a place setting, it
spoke to me more about the characters.

Finally, I would like to add that coupled with the amazing acting,
Lemmons gives some of the most memorable direction behind the camera.
The scenes when Mozelle speaks about how she lost her second husband
(the one that loved her the most) because her lover wanted her to
himself was riveting. Told through the mirror, this was one of the most
interesting ways to tell a flashback. Instead of using the classic
'black and white' or faded lines trick, Lemmons actually brought the
scene to us. We witness it firsthand and this allows us to be impacted
deeper. I felt the connection, and it worked.

Overall, this was a gem. I wasn't expecting to see such a caliber of
acting and direction as I did in this film. The cinematography was
outstanding. Lemmons has an eye and a passion for this film, and it is
apparent with every scene that she captures. The Batiste family engulfs
all of your emotion. Lemmons takes innocent children and captures you
within their world, giving you only brief moments to breathe. She shows
us the power behind Jackson's voice and the ability he has to expand
his career. This was a surprise for me, but a well enjoyed surprise. I
suggest you check this film out when time permits. It is a rare find
that you will probably see in the bargain bin at any local store. Pick
it up and enjoy it. I do not think you will be disappointed.

Grade: **** out of *****