Review of Eve's Bayou (1997) by Kennedyb. — 05 Jun 2006

Eve's Bayou received no Oscar nominations, yet it is one of the finest motion pictures of 1997 -- a fully realized production from the screenplay and direction to the acting and cinematography.

[***SPOILERS***] It depicts a prosperous black family in early '60s Louisiana. The father and husband (Samuel L. Jackson) is a physician who philanders yet dearly loves his children. When a wedge of suspicion comes between them, events proceed toward a tragedy that may even have supernatural implications. This is one of the few black films in recent memory without a whiff of racism in the air. In part, that's because the world it depicts is wholly black, while the situations are timeless and universal. The cast is superb, from Jackson as the life-loving and sometimes misunderstood patriarch to Lynn Whitfield as his fearful wife and Meagan Good as his willful eldest daughter. The point-of-view character is Eve, the youngest daughter, played with heartbreaking fervor by Jurnee Smollett. Also strong in support is Debbi Morgan, as Jackson's sister. But the most credit should go to Kasi Lemmons, a relatively unknown actress who shows a rare artistry in her writing and directing debut. Trust us: She makes Good Will Hunting's Ben Affleck and Matt Damon look like amateurs -- and they were Oscar-nominated.