Blue Bayou

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2:34

Blue Bayou

R

2021

1h 59m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

125 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

100+ Verified Ratings

From award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.

Critics Consensus

Blue Bayou can be indelicate in its attempts to tug the heartstrings, but solid acting and a genuinely affecting story make this drama difficult to ignore.

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David Stratton

The Australian

12/10/2021

4/5

An angry, passionate film from writer-director and leading actor Justin Chon.

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Pamela Hutchinson

Empire Magazine

12/06/2021

3/5

Multi-hyphenate Justin Chon has crafted an impressive melodrama, rich in Louisiana atmosphere and with a timely message, but Blue Bayou is marred by its reliance on symbolism and sentiment.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

12/05/2021

2/5

Chon's directing choices are bold and sometimes interesting, but the screenplay - a big old overcooked melodrama that chucks in everything from a motorcycle chase to a terminal cancer subplot - is an almighty mess.

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Nadine Whitney

Mr. Movie's Film Blog

09/17/2023

2.5/5

Ultimately Blue Bayou is a tear-jerker, but the audience will be unsure when to shed their tears because there are just too many depressing moments.

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Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

07/26/2023

An emotional roller coaster that is a bold directorial debut an another INCREDIBLE performance from Alicia Vikander. Truly one of the best actresses working right now. I overall dug the movie but every great piece there was something that frustrated me.

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Paul Lê

Tales from the Paulside

07/23/2023

3.5/5

But when the positives are as good as they are here, the flaws take a backseat.

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CH

10/13/2021

A beautifully-made social issue film about a topic deserving more public attention. And that final scene!

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Juan A

10/13/2021

The story clearly is about an important topic/issue, and the two acting leads--Justin Chon (who also wrote the script and directed the film) and Alicia Vikander--are excellent in their roles. The final scene is gut-wrenching, but it is a scene which probably occurred in many airports as immigrants got deported. I give it four stars as opposed to five because there were a few elements of the plot/storyline which seemed a bit implausible, illogical. Did I "like" the movie? I don't know. But it certainly deals with and focuses a spotlight on an important issue which many Americans probably are not aware of, and I give the movie MUCH credit for that.

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patricia e

10/07/2021

Well done in every way! Left the theatre with tears in my eyes! Both lead actors were spot on as well as the child! All around surprise great movie. Talked about the storyline for days after!

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Beryle C

10/06/2021

Powerful, poignant, extremely well done. A heartbreaking tale straight from today.

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Kenneth

10/03/2021

Oscar contender for sure, real sad the broken immigration system for people who are adopted but still facing deportation after decades of living in the US.

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Louis H

10/02/2021

This was an emotionally impacting story that opened my eyes to the terribly flawed immigration laws and procedures within this country with regards to deportation. the movie was very well written and delivered. It starts little slow but I highly recommend it.

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Justin Chon

Director

Justin Chon

Antonio LeBlanc

Alicia Vikander

Kathy LeBlanc

Mark O'Brien

Ace

Linh Dan Pham

Parker Nguyen

Emory Cohen

Denny

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - You Chose Me, I Chose You

2:16

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Brutal Cop Attack

3:01

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Motorcycle Heist

3:05

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - You're Lying!

3:48

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Beaten in the Woods

1:44

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Fleur de Lis

3:10

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - You're Going to Jail

2:40

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Getting a Tattoo

3:22

Blue Bayou: Official Clip - Blue Bayou

2:54

Blue Bayou: Movie Clip - Fleur De Lis

1:09

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Blue Bayou: Featurette - Story

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Blue Bayou: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

From award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.

Director: Justin Chon
Producer: Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks, Justin Chon
Screenwriter: Justin Chon
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Entertainment One, MACRO
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 2021, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 7, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $645.8K
Runtime: 1h 59m