Blue Bayou is a new drama film directed, written and partly produced by Justin Chon, the director of Mr. Purple and Gook.
The film is about the Korean-American man Antonio LeBlanc (Justin Chon). He came to America as an adopted child, but later cut off contact with his adoptive family. For example, he moved in with Kathy (Alicia Vikander), whom he is now married to. The two live with her daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The two are expecting a new baby together, but when Antonio finds himself in unjustified trouble, it is discovered that he is not a US citizen and is living in the country illegally. Now he has to face a lawsuit against the state to stay with his family in America. Otherwise, he will lose the land where he has lived for thirty years and will have to leave his family behind.
With this film they respond to the current problems of the migration flow. Although the film mainly focuses on this problem in America, it is now also playing out in Europe. For example, the film shows how hard it can be for migrants to make the journey to a new home country and what they all have to do to be allowed to continue living here legally.
This movie shows this well to bring out the movie's family well and portray them as a family that has been together for years. Due to the discovery that one lives illegally in the country and suddenly has to leave, this shows how a family can be driven apart. In this way you, as a viewer, care more about the family and their mutual bond.
With vague flashbacks they try to clarify Antonio's past, but in the last act you really learn what these mean. Because of this, when they come up earlier in the film, they can come across as a bit unclear. So you understand that Antonio has had a dark past, but still he continues to make mistakes and lie to his wife. These actions may make some viewers feel a little less sorry for him. If he had been less wrong and more honest with his wife, he could have prevented some problems. The last act can also come across as a bit rushed or messy, losing some dramatic value.
In addition to the migration news, they also try to respond to the current affairs of corrupt and wrong police officers. Despite the important message, they unfortunately do this in a lesser way. The agent in the movie who brings this up comes across a bit too unrealistic and sometimes seems like he's straight out of a cartoon with the actions he's taking.
Justin Chon shot this film with a 16 millimeter camera and also made use of natural light sources in certain scenes, allowing him to create some beautiful scenes. He may seem to have taken on a bit too much work with this film. In scenes where he has directed himself, there are a number of moving scenes. Furthermore, in some scenes the camera lens is still wet or dirty spots and stripes can be seen in the image. This was probably overlooked in the making of the final film, as otherwise it doesn't seem to have any real meaning.
Still, Justin Chon does a good job in the lead role of the film. Together with Alicia Vikander, he has a good and credible chemistry. That way they come across as a couple trying to be there for each other. Sydney Kowalske also knows how to put down good acting for a young, starting actress. She provides both good comedic and dramatic moments in the film. Furthermore, Vondie Curtis-Hal also has a good role as a lawyer in the film.
The film is about the Korean-American man Antonio LeBlanc (Justin Chon). He came to America as an adopted child, but later cut off contact with his adoptive family. For example, he moved in with Kathy (Alicia Vikander), whom he is now married to. The two live with her daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The two are expecting a new baby together, but when Antonio finds himself in unjustified trouble, it is discovered that he is not a US citizen and is living in the country illegally. Now he has to face a lawsuit against the state to stay with his family in America. Otherwise, he will lose the land where he has lived for thirty years and will have to leave his family behind.
With this film they respond to the current problems of the migration flow. Although the film mainly focuses on this problem in America, it is now also playing out in Europe. For example, the film shows how hard it can be for migrants to make the journey to a new home country and what they all have to do to be allowed to continue living here legally.
This movie shows this well to bring out the movie's family well and portray them as a family that has been together for years. Due to the discovery that one lives illegally in the country and suddenly has to leave, this shows how a family can be driven apart. In this way you, as a viewer, care more about the family and their mutual bond.
With vague flashbacks they try to clarify Antonio's past, but in the last act you really learn what these mean. Because of this, when they come up earlier in the film, they can come across as a bit unclear. So you understand that Antonio has had a dark past, but still he continues to make mistakes and lie to his wife. These actions may make some viewers feel a little less sorry for him. If he had been less wrong and more honest with his wife, he could have prevented some problems. The last act can also come across as a bit rushed or messy, losing some dramatic value.
In addition to the migration news, they also try to respond to the current affairs of corrupt and wrong police officers. Despite the important message, they unfortunately do this in a lesser way. The agent in the movie who brings this up comes across a bit too unrealistic and sometimes seems like he's straight out of a cartoon with the actions he's taking.
Justin Chon shot this film with a 16 millimeter camera and also made use of natural light sources in certain scenes, allowing him to create some beautiful scenes. He may seem to have taken on a bit too much work with this film. In scenes where he has directed himself, there are a number of moving scenes. Furthermore, in some scenes the camera lens is still wet or dirty spots and stripes can be seen in the image. This was probably overlooked in the making of the final film, as otherwise it doesn't seem to have any real meaning.
Still, Justin Chon does a good job in the lead role of the film. Together with Alicia Vikander, he has a good and credible chemistry. That way they come across as a couple trying to be there for each other. Sydney Kowalske also knows how to put down good acting for a young, starting actress. She provides both good comedic and dramatic moments in the film. Furthermore, Vondie Curtis-Hal also has a good role as a lawyer in the film.