Review of Blue Bayou (2021) by Robomartion — 18 Jan 2022

This is a very emotionally moving film with a well thought out script that brings together people of all backgrounds and sheds light on the injustice facing adopted immigrants in the USA. A few points are lost for Alicia Vikkander's inconsistent accents (why not just cast an actual Floridian or at least American) although she does do a great job being vulnerable, and the at-times terrible camera work is blurry overblown, with flecks on the lens thanks to the new old trend of using film stock (just use a digital camera for crying out loud).

Sydney Kowalske (the little girl) does an outstanding job and in some ways really carries the movie, though, Justin Chon is equally convincing and surprised me even more so when I found that he had written, acted and directed the movie.

The way the movie ties together the bayou (swamp) with the character's history is very well done. If I didn't know better I would have thought the movie had been made by someone who had really gone through this ordeal.

I am aware of the controversy surrounding the film, I think he should have involved Adam Crapser as the actor of the movie or at least in the writing or as an executive producer. But perhaps Chon did not trust anyone else in aligning with his vision.

The music is very moving and all-in-all the movie will bring you tears and make you wish the world wasn't so unfair and stupid.