Eve's Bayou (1997)

80% of critics liked it
(51 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(7,724 ratings)

A young girl learns some difficult lessons about truth, love, and fidelity in this critically-acclaimed Southern gothic drama. Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) is a ten-year-old girl whose father Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) is a successful and well-liked doctor in an African-American community in… More A young girl learns some difficult lessons about truth, love, and fidelity in this critically-acclaimed Southern gothic drama. Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) is a ten-year-old girl whose father Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) is a successful and well-liked doctor in an African-American community in Louisiana. Louis is a good father and an excellent provider, but he also has a way of attracting the ladies, and he's not inclined to turn them away. One night, the Batistes hold a party, and Eve, her older sister Cisely (Meagan Good), and their mother Roz (Lynn Whitfield) all notice that Louis is spending a great deal of time dancing with the same woman. Eve later spies her father and the woman in an embrace in the carriage house, though Louis unconvincingly claims that nothing untoward was happening. The evidence of Louis' infidelity takes a toll on the entire family: Cisely, who at age 14 is walking the middle-ground between being a girl and a woman, becomes sullen and confused about her new emotions, Roz takes out her frustrations on her loved ones, and Eve visits Elzora (Diahann Carroll), a voodoo priestess, looking for advice and possibly revenge. Meanwhile, Eve's Aunt Mozelle (Debbi Morgan), who claims to have psychic powers, arrives to stay with the family after the death of her third husband, though she isn't lonely for long after meeting the eccentric Julien Greyraven (Vondie Curtis-Hall). Eve's Bayou was the first project as writer-director for actress Kasi Lemmons; leading man Samuel L. Jackson also co-produced. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Kasi Lemmons
Written By: Kasi Lemmons
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Feb 27, 2001
Studio: Lions Gate Films

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Subplots are woven stealthily into the story, taking the pressure off the central drama, allowing it to be affecting rather than melodramatic, and heightening the atmosphere of the lush Louisiana setting.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
A sparkling directorial debut.
Emanuel Levy, Variety
An intensely emotional drama that mixes elements of Southern Gothic with the kinds of characters and tensions that prevail in the plays of Southern writers like Tennessee Williams.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A gothic and, for better or worse, poetic memoir about a young girl and her family of Creole aristocrats.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
In Eve's Bayou, Tennessee goes to Louisiana, and finds a familiar home. Tennessee Williams, that is.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
There has never been a film quite like Kasi Lemmons' shimmering Eve's Bayou.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
More than anything, about the nature of memory and how it rarely matches the truth of life.
, Film4
The film is given an almost dream-like quality by Vincent who washes everything in a sepia-type tone that adds to the effect of seeing an adult world of deceit and hurt through the eyes of a child.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Lemmons' focus on strong female characters, and her willingness to ignore accepted notions of "black filmmaking" are powerful assets, but one can't help wishing the film as a whole lived up to its initial promise.
, Time Out
Writer/director Kasi Lemmons shows sweet judgment here, doesn't caricature or demonise the errant father, and elicits a host of nuanced performances from women of all ages.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It feels like I've seen dozens of films this year by first time writers and directors, and not one has stuck to me until now.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
A solid, if somewhat heavy-handed, Southern Gothic tale, steeped in mysticism.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Pretentious as all hell, sorry.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Easily one of the best films of the year, and ironically, it was better than all of the Best Picture nominees.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
The melodramatic mysticism is as thick as the bayou moss, but Eve's Bayou manages to maintain a magical narrative about Louisiana southern backwater living that is intoxicating and engaging.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

One of the Galas from the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival, and a Gala it is. Directed by Kasi Lemmons whose work's need to be explored further, along with this DVD came Dr Hugo, a short excellent film. By Eve's Bayou just short of 5 stars, Eve is a very young girl… More
One of the Galas from the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival, and a Gala it is. Directed by Kasi Lemmons whose work's need to be explored further, along with this DVD came Dr Hugo, a short excellent film. By Eve's Bayou just short of 5 stars, Eve is a very young girl and we explore her young life and those around her, Samuel Jackson (Her Dad) houses many secrets that are none to none by Eve. Also Eve has an Aunt who is a fortune teller, and Eve seeks the help of a Voodoo Lady. There is many secrets that tear Eve's family apart. All in all a great movie with a great cast. worth seeing and worth adding to any collection. 4 1/2 stars
Brian R

Kasi Lemmons masterpiece. Amy Vincent's cinematography is just down right beautiful and an all star cast proving real acting strength. It's not so much of the plot but the conflict within the characters. The film really takes you along a journey where I didn't know what… More
Kasi Lemmons masterpiece. Amy Vincent's cinematography is just down right beautiful and an all star cast proving real acting strength. It's not so much of the plot but the conflict within the characters. The film really takes you along a journey where I didn't know what was to be expected but everything comes along perfectly. It's a great film. Highly recommended.
Leo L

A personal favorite.