Immigration stories usually focus on families adjusting to a foreign country and struggling to find their American Dream. The new indie film ‘Blue Bayou’ takes a different approach. It examines a flaw in the U.S. immigration system. It’s a loophole that states children adopted by an American family may not actually be citizens and can be deported if the paperwork was not properly completed years ago. Many have called the United States home since they were infants and now are forced to go back to their “home” country as adults.
Justin Chon writes, directs and stars in ‘Blue Bayou.’ Although the film is a bit heavy-handed, you cannot deny the raw intensity and talent Chon brings to the drama. Antonio (Chon) is trying to do the right thing. He’s an ex-con that is struggling to provide for Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and her daughter Jessie (Sydey Kowalske). He’s not making enough money as a tattoo artist. The opening scene shows him being interviewed for job as a mechanic at a motorcycle shop. The first thing you notice is that he speaks in a thick Cajun accent. As another door closes, he has no other option but to dabble back into motorcycle theft.
His troubles keep escalating as he gets into an altercation with a racist cop. It lands Antonio in jail. When Kathy arrives to bail him out, she is told ICE has taken him. His immigration status is in question. Despite being adopted as a baby, he finds out that his mother never bothered to complete the paperwork to finalize his citizenship. Problems keep mounting as he needs to hire an expensive immigration attorney. He also finds out that Kathy is pregnant. The pressure is on for him to make more money and this leads him back into a life of crime without Kathy’s knowledge.
Antonio makes bad choices. You shouldn’t like the guy but you do. During the quieter moments of the film, you see he has a good heart. He wants to provide for his family in an honest way but he keeps getting kicked down by society. When he meets his estranged adoptive mother, you begin to understand why Antonio chose the path he did. The plot is overstuffed with melodrama. Chon hits you with a sledgehammer. In spite of this, the film works. The performances are genuine. Not only does Chon deliver a stellar performance but Swedish actress Alicia Vikander is equally compelling. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable.
There is so much to like about ‘Blue Bayou.’ Chon shot it in 16mm. It gives the film a gritty ‘70s feel to it. The overall story will hit you like a Mack Truck. Some may find it a bit too melodramatic but you cannot deny the heart behind the story. This film is a tearjerker. Vikander even gets to belt out a karaoke version of the Linda Ronstadt song, “Blue Bayou.” That alone is worth the price of adimission.
