Blue Bayou Review: An Oscar-Worthy Drama About Family And Circumstances

Release date: September 17, 2021
Running time: 117 minutes
Director/Writer: Justin Chon
Cast: Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien, Linh Dan Pham, Emory Cohen, Sydney Kowalske

An official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival from award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, BLUE BAYOU is the moving and timely story of an uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life, Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter, Jessie (Sydney Kowalske). Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of the past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.

Justin Chon took on a lot for this film, but I have to imagine this was a very personal story for him to tell.  I loved his character, despite being frustrated with some of his choices, Antonio felt so uniquely American.  This Asian man with a thick New Orleans accent, tatted up and trying to do right by his family was such an amalgamation of ideas and influences that you can't help but be intrigued.  And Vikander as Kathy was a similarly interesting and deep character, the rock in the family who deals with the family's financial troubles but also the inherent racism that follows her and Antonio's love.  But the real star of this film is Kowalske as Jessie, who shows a comfort that you rarely see in young actors.  She is so natural in this role and is responsible for one of the most powerful scenes I have seen in any film.  This cast of mismatched but perfectly fitting characters really forms the heart and soul of this film, and their troubles, triumphs, and love fuel this story on.  

And the story of Blue Bayou layers the themes on but leaves plenty of surprises for the viewer to experience.  You never feel like it is intentionally holding information back from you, but new revelations occur throughout the film.  And this helps to fuel the family's plight but also gives you greater insight into the complicated person that is Antonio.  And these also allow the characters around the film to grow as well, giving depth to all the people that we meet.  But on top of this story, the film is just a beautiful piece of cinema.  The movie is in a 4:3 format, which puts the characters front and center.  And there are clever little touches, like a blurred look to some of the shots, that give it almost a dreamlike state.  And through this all, there is an amazing soundtrack.  The film has deep string notes during the dramatic parts and light clarinet during the happier times; they add layers to this film especially because much of this movie is communicated nonverbally.  

Blue Bayou is a powerful drama that packs a lot of information into an understated, beautiful, and gut wrenching film.  The movie looks at America through a unique lens, focusing on the life you build but also on how others treat you.  Justin Chon has created an absolute masterpiece, with so many themes packed into this story.  I really loved how they never felt overwhelming; the circumstances that the family is confronted with do, but the overall messages themselves are layered on and communicated to the viewer without overloading you.  And there are so many messages in this film, from immigration, to inherent bias, to the impediments that are placed in people's way, and to race and identity.  This movie is something that will speak to so many right now, when it seems that as a country there is a trend to not value hardworking people who call America home.  

Blue Bayou is a powerful drama that looks at race, family, love, and life through understated cinematography, complicated characters, beautiful music, and a gut-wrenching, uniquely American story.

Watch it.

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Blue Bayou is in theaters on September 17, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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