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THE CRITERION COLLECTION “The summer I killed my father, I was ten years old . . .” So begins this spellbinding feature debut by Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), an evocative journey into the maze of memory steeped in fragrant southern-gothic atmosphere. In 1960s Louisiana, a young girl (Friday Night Lights’ Jurnee Smollett) sees her well-to-do family unravel in the wake of the infidelities of her charming father (Pulp Fiction’s Samuel L. Jackson)—setting in motion a series of deceptions and betrayals that will upend her world and challenge her understanding of reality. Rooted in Creole history, folklore, and mysticism, Eve’s Bayou is a scintillating showcase for a powerhouse ensemble of Black actresses—including Lynn Whitfield (Madea’s Family Reunion), Debbi Morgan (Roots), and the legendary Diahann Carroll (Claudine) as a voodoo priestess— as well as a profoundly cathartic exploration of trauma, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of truth.

Eve's Bayou (1997)
108 min
Summer heats up in rural Louisiana beside Eve’s Bayou, 1962, as the Batiste family tries to survive the secrets they’ve kept and the betrayals they’ve endured.