Director
Justin Chon
Starring
Justin Chon and Alicia Vikander
America, ‘land of the free’? Writer, director and leading man Justin Chon will suggest otherwise in this brutally emotive story of an adopted American, turned ‘illegal’, fighting for his right to stay in the only home he’s ever known, with the family who relies upon him.
Chon plays the role of Antonio LeBlanc, a Korean-American who was adopted as a 3 year old and brought to the US to be raised in the Louisiana bayou. Although he’s made some mistakes in his past which has resulted in him having a criminal record, he’s now happily married with a baby on the way, also raising his wife’s daughter from a previous relationship. Unfortunately for Antonio, the ghosts of his past are about to catch up with him in the cruelest of ways. After unsuccessfully searching for more work to help support his expanding family, Antonio finds himself in an altercation with two local Police Officers, one of whom is also the biological father of Antonio’s step daughter. This altercation results in ICE being called upon Antonio. This is where we learn that despite being legally adopted from South Korea as a toddler, Antonio (and many other children adopted from overseas to the United States, prior to the year 2000) is not legally recognized as a US citizen due to a loophole in the adoption legislation at the time. The ensuing legal battle for Antonio’s right to remain in the US, and necessity for Antonio to confront his past, takes us on a raw and turbulent, emotional journey.
Playing the role of Kathy, Antonio’s wife, Alicia Vikander is solid as the hard working mother and wife, trying desperately to keep her family unit together. Sydney Kowalske (as her daughter Jessie) is the real scene stealer throughout Blue Bayou though. We get to see the special bond that Jessie and Antonio have and the purity in her love for her stepfather is moving, best exemplified in her trying to dye her hair black so she looks more like him. Chon himself is mesmerizing and elicits great amounts of sympathy for his characters situation, however a little more balance in the films severity could have served all a little better.
The story itself is heavy and unrelenting, and its attempts to create more poignancy and softness can at times feel a little forced, especially with the introduction of a terminally-ill stranger that somehow manages to always turn up when Antonio most needs the support. But overall there’s a powerful message underpinning this film. Most viewers will walk away from this experience feeling angry and helpless, which I dare say is the films overall intention.
Blue Bayou is the kind of film you’ll be glad you’ve seen, but also one you probably won’t have the heart to watch twice.
Blue Bayou is in cinemas November 18.
TRAILER
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2047524889?playlistId=tt11121664&ref_=tt_ov_vi
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