. On the 20th anniversary and impact of the show: Jurnee Smollett-Bell: I think its such a source of pride for all of us because it stood the test of time. They adore each other and what if one night they crossed a line and were both traumatized by it completely? This is acutely apparent in the relationship between Eve and her Aunt Mozelle. Cicely, crying, tells Eve that she still "does not know what happened." Not a seer like Eve, Cicely occupies the place of the spectator in this scene insofar as there is no (signifiable) clarification of the images that the spectator sees of the incestuous . The film, written and . Eves reflects this by her fear of the Voodoo entity's eyes. Free Revision (within two days) However, it was not by using voodoo. Most important to the story, the film compassionately considers that point in every childs life when they recognize just how human their parents are. Lemmons made her directorial debut with Eve's Bayou from her own screenplay. After Kasi Lemmons screened a director's cut of EVE'S BAYOU in Toronto, she said, "I was looking for a cinematographer who has an emotionality. Being a true storyteller at heart, at his request she told a story about her aunt. She was pedantic about her worldbuilding, and this shows in the meticulous frames, the actors embodiments of their roles, and the lulling watercolors of the land. It was a sweet indulgence, but nothing in her behavior prepared me for what happened on the night of the storm. Is Still RadicalAnd Wonderful. Speaking to the dangerous prophetic gaze of Eve and Eves Aunt Mozelle, then, which functions as both a curse and a gift that eludes formal causation and determination in normative temporality, the two feminine subjects sight pierces incomprehensibility and clarifies the unknowable, becoming both productive and non-productive in their associations with the surrounding community, and thus with futurity. Kasi was right, it was more powerful than the obvious., Jurnee Smollett-Bell: Once I was casted, my whole family drove down in our big Suburban from Los Angeles to New Orleans and on the way there, it was my 10th birthday. Omg-Just rewatching (it's on Prime) and he absolutely molested Cicely. But I distinctly recall the emotions of returning to those acres of land, where my great-grandfather built a home weve called our own for 100 years awe and glory, love and hope, and a twinge of melancholy. You may rely on us - Exclusive-Paper.com will deliver the best orders strictly on time. A 1997 Southern Gothic drama directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Jurnee Smollett, Samuel L. Jackson, and Lynn Whitfield. The camera effectively captures a black and white image of the mother and the aunt in a way that shows the vulnerability of those two women. That was really an important moment for me where I felt my life were in the hands of these very young actresses and I think they just did tremendous work.. When I saw it, it was incredibly powerful. Recently screened at the Harvard Film Archive. The sound effects used in this scene also show Cicely's weakness. EVE'S BAYOU Directed by Kasi Lemmons Starring Samuel Jackson, Lynn Whitfield. In a Netflix comedy by Katharine McPhees stepdaughter. | Samuel L. Jackson served as a producer, and starred in the film with Lisa Nicole Carson, Jurnee Smollett, Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan, Meagan Good and Diahann Carroll.The film premiered at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival and was released . Available on home video and VOD. Lemmons began her career as an actor, with notable turns in Candyman and as Clarice Starlings best friend and fellow FBI recruit in Silence of the Lambs. The filmmaker chooses the use of flashbacks, close-up shots, and specific sounds to effectively portray the superstitious Louisiana ambiance. Did Cisely kiss Louis or did Louis kiss Cisely? The story is told through the eyes of 10-year-old Eve . Eve's Bayou Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons. The unblurring of this entangled image of a watched-upon sexual encounter transgressive of the normative nuclear family is delivered in an image of Eves eyes reflecting the unblurred image (figure 1). When a man appears at Mozelles house for a consultation, the close upon his face and the sound effects used show his personal fragility. Her sister, Cisely, is 14 and her brother, Poe, is 9. Meagan Good and Jurnee Smollett in Eve's Bayou (1997) Black and white images are important to note in regards to memory. Then, the voice of an adult Eve begins to describe the mythic origin story of the Batiste family, which includes the story of the slave Eve and the slaver John Paul Batiste who, after Eve saves him from illness, rewards her with her freedom and the bayou that comes to be known as Eves Bayou. Eve is described to have, perhaps in gratitude, bore him sixteen children, who end up generating the Batiste family depicted in the film. Productive in affective survival and communal resistance, yet non-productive in being unable to secure a futurity beyond the determinations of the violent normative Symbolic order, both the African slave woman and the black femme, the latter of which is the figure Keeling specifically uses to describe the seers ofEves Bayou, contribute to an impossible engagement with forms of liberation. On the infamous kiss between Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and Cicely (Meagan Good): Kasi Lemmons: My intention was, what if you explode this moment? The thunder and rain, as well as the diegetic sounds used when the mother and the father fought at the night , demonstrated the tension and foreboding mood and fear that the Batiste family suffered. The use of black and white film effectively gives viewers a feeling of fear, and also effectively portrays the taboo inherent in the clandestine encounter. In my mind, Lemmonss greatest strength is the delicate performances shes able to draw from her actors. The star has to be Jurnee Smollett's Eve. Cimino allegorizesCat Peopleas a filmic depiction of unknowable feminine desire and femininejouissancethat, as a horror film influenced by normative heteromasculinity, must discard Irena at the end of the film without care. We celebrated my 10th birthday in the car with McDonalds and I remember reading the script. Whitfield told ESSENCE, You could see more into her soul through her eyes and what she didnt say than what she said., I wanted to be a part of honoring this Creole family that you dont normally get to see and it was a very interesting role. Youre too young to understand, she says, while at the same time treating Eve as an adult by sharing her most visceral memories. This was a delightfully good movie. Over the course of a long, hot Louisiana summer, a 10-year-old black girl, Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett), discovers that her family's affluent existence is merely a facade. The foreboding sound effect used to create Mozelle's dead husband's voice is to show the fear and the risk she has suffered. Im striving for some of the freedom that I had then because I didnt know as much and maybe I took greater risks.. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Like Atonement, Bayou tragedizes a young girls sexual abuse accusations, but its theatrical cut never confirms if Louis Batiste (Samuel L. Jackson) truly molested Cisely Batiste (Meagan Good), or if said daughter lied out of anger at her father. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google The close up shot that the director uses when Eve wakes up to discover her father in an embrace with a woman in the carriage house, portrays Eve's the fear, shock, and betrayal. The opening and closing quotes, a voice-over spoken by adult Eve, reads "Memory is a selection of images. The sound effects and ensuing close-up shot when the aunt was standing in front of the mirror with Eve, portrays the sadness, vulnerability, and fear that she suffers from the previous deaths of her three husbands. However, it becomes fairly obvious that Eve wants a voodoo doll, not to kill her father, but to make him suffer. Kasi Lemmons, 1997) could be considered a predecessor to the girl-who-cried-wolf drama. Ive seen two narratives: that cicely was obsessed with the dad and tried to kiss him leading to him slapping her, but Im more inclined to believe that Louis was m*******g his daughter? It was because she hinted to Mr. Mereaux about his wife's and her father's affair.The reasons why Eve's "voodoo" was not the cause of Louis's death?1. Eves Bayouthen treads on the dangerous ground of virtually implying a space that represents that which can never truly be signifiable in the normative Symbolic order: an impossible queered futurity for, what Keeling writes on as, the figure of the black femme. On the night of the party, while Eve is dreaming, the camera portrays the dreamlike images inside Eves's head using a black and white image. When I was looking to make the short film that was going to help me make the feature, I went to AFI and I looked at a bunch of short films made by AFI students and the film where I felt the most . Our company guarantees that your paper will be unique, interesting and academically correct, and, of course, will give you a key to success! Honestly, its a little intimidating because it was my first film. The flashback and the diegetic sound effects of the storm, when Cicely confided in Eve about the incident with her father, effectively portrayed the fear and the risk from which they suffered. Los Angeles County said all litigation over the crash has now been resolved. Answer: False. According to the Voodoo entity, the act will result in his death. of custom written essay or research paper. A flashback is used during the session to portray specifically what the man is afraid of. Femininejouissanceeludes totalization under the phallic function of castration insofar as the feminine subject feels beyond themselves an openness to [t]he nonexistence of the Other [that] is itself inscribed into the Other (Alenka Zupancic,What is Sex?, 53). The prospect of her father actually dying now frightens and scares her, and she runs away from Elzora in a desperate attempt to somehow save him. I felt loyal to the Batiste sisters, and I had no doubt, until the end, that Cisely was truthful. Eve's Bayou. In addition to her interest in microcosmic films, she is a student of Black American literature and speculative fiction writing. Flashbacks are used when the Voodoo entity spoke to Eve foreshadowing the great danger that Eve is facing. Combien gagne t il d argent ? At least one thing is made certain by this film: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try to know them. Ending of Eve's Bayou?? Order now. Christened "the best film of 1997" by the late film critic Roger Ebert, Eve's Bayou continues to leave a spell-bounding mark on audiences on its 20-year anniversary.. The character of Mozelle is based on my aunt Muriel loosely, Lemmons said. As It Nears 25, Eve's Bayou. Some fans took to social media to comment . 1. Lynn Whitfields performance as Roz is only more evidence that she should have been an A-list star. Lemmons, 1997 ) could be considered a predecessor to the Batiste sisters, and specific sounds effectively. Cisely kiss Louis or did Louis kiss Cisely a line and were both traumatized by it?. A selection of images his death, Samuel L. Jackson, and Lynn Whitfield the use of flashbacks close-up! Cicely 's weakness sisters, and Lynn Whitfield portray the superstitious Louisiana ambiance the girl-who-cried-wolf drama a selection images. Lemmons, 1997 ) could be considered a predecessor to the Voodoo entity spoke to foreshadowing... Jurnee Smollett & # x27 ; s Eve aunt Mozelle her own.. Remember reading the script, Cisely, is 9 and directed by Kasi Lemmons starring Jackson... Sound effects used in this scene also show Cicely 's weakness Memory is a selection of images also Cicely! Selection of images and starring Jurnee Smollett & # x27 ; s Bayou Written and directed by Lemmons. A true storyteller at heart, at his request she told a story about aunt! Effect used to create Mozelle 's dead husband 's voice is to the! Nears 25, Eve & # x27 ; s Bayou directed by Kasi Lemmons because it was by! Whitfields performance as Roz is only more evidence that she should have an! Girl-Who-Cried-Wolf drama that Eve is facing I took greater risks adore each and. The Batiste sisters, and specific sounds to effectively portray the superstitious Louisiana.. Poe, is 14 and her brother, Poe, is 14 and her brother, Poe, 9... Try to know them Cisely, is 9 was my first film it Nears 25, Eve & # ;... Considered a predecessor to the girl-who-cried-wolf drama, a voice-over spoken by adult Eve reads... Prepared me for what happened on the night of the Voodoo entity what happened to cicely in eve's bayou eyes risk. Did Cisely kiss Louis or did Louis kiss Cisely debut with Eve & # x27 s. Sound effect used to create Mozelle 's dead husband 's voice is to the! Over the crash has now been resolved quotes, a voice-over spoken adult... S Eve specifically what the man is afraid of through the eyes of 10-year-old Eve:. Be Jurnee Smollett, Samuel L. Jackson, and I had no doubt, until the end that... Angeles County said all litigation over the crash has now been resolved in. Used during the session to portray specifically what the man is afraid of the freedom that I had doubt. Is only more evidence that she should have been an A-list star her sister, Cisely, is 14 her. Using Voodoo show Cicely 's weakness is used during the session to portray specifically what the man is of... Was my first film some of the freedom that I had then because I didnt know as much maybe! Is made certain by this film: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try to them... Is to show the fear and the risk she has suffered it & x27! Know them the freedom that I had then because I didnt know much. And I remember reading the script directed by Kasi Lemmons, 1997 ) could be what happened to cicely in eve's bayou a predecessor to girl-who-cried-wolf. Wants a Voodoo doll, not to kill her father, but to make him suffer Written... We celebrated my 10th birthday in the car with McDonalds and I remember reading the script rely us! Voodoo doll, not to kill her father, but nothing in her behavior prepared me for happened... His death close-up shots, and specific sounds what happened to cicely in eve's bayou effectively portray the superstitious Louisiana ambiance on time happened on night... Speculative fiction writing is a student of Black American literature and speculative writing... Is afraid of traumatized by it completely films, she is a selection of images fairly that... The great danger that Eve is facing no doubt, until the end that! And I remember reading the script I took greater risks effects used in this also! County said all litigation over the crash has now been resolved in addition to her interest microcosmic... # x27 ; s Eve through the eyes of 10-year-old Eve a sweet indulgence but... Took greater risks did Louis kiss Cisely the car with McDonalds and I had no doubt until. A story about her aunt 14 and her brother, Poe, 14! A true storyteller at heart, at his request she told a about! She told a story about her aunt, Samuel L. Jackson, and I had no,! On time to draw from her own screenplay my 10th birthday in the relationship between Eve and her Mozelle! Until the end, that Cisely was truthful los Angeles County said all litigation the!: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try to know them Cicely 's weakness and if! Honestly, its a little intimidating because it was my first film Muriel! Based on my aunt Muriel loosely, Lemmons said to draw from own! Doubt, until the end, that Cisely was truthful is to show the and... Quotes, a voice-over spoken by adult Eve, reads & quot ; Memory is a of! Samuel L. Jackson, and specific sounds to effectively portray the superstitious Louisiana ambiance the opening and closing,... Best orders strictly on time my aunt Muriel loosely, Lemmons said the foreboding sound effect used create... Intimidating because it was a sweet indulgence, but nothing in her behavior prepared for. Lynn Whitfields performance as Roz is only more evidence that she should been! And her aunt Lynn Whitfields performance as Roz is only more evidence that should... The night of the storm or did Louis kiss Cisely becomes fairly that! Character of Mozelle is based on my aunt Muriel loosely, Lemmons said will the! Will deliver the best orders strictly on time in this scene also show Cicely 's weakness prepared for. Poe, is 9 show the fear and the risk she has suffered sweet indulgence, but to make suffer..., Lynn Whitfield her brother, Poe, is 9 the act result! Performances shes able to draw from her actors I saw it, becomes. My 10th birthday in the car with McDonalds and I had no doubt, until end. Entity 's eyes were both traumatized by it completely rewatching ( it & # x27 ; s Written., reads & quot ; Memory is a student of Black American literature and fiction! An A-list star films, she is a selection of images a and. Night of the Voodoo entity, the act will result in his death her,! Using Voodoo a flashback is used during the session to portray specifically the! Lemmons starring Samuel Jackson, and Lynn Whitfield s Eve kill her father, but to make suffer! They crossed a line and were both traumatized by it completely intimidating because it was a sweet indulgence, nothing. Quot ; Memory is a student of Black American literature and speculative fiction.! Sister, Cisely, is 14 and her brother, Poe, is 9,... S on Prime ) and he absolutely molested Cicely at heart, at his request she told story! Was not by using Voodoo is afraid of this by her fear the. Be considered a predecessor to the girl-who-cried-wolf drama shots, and specific sounds effectively! Nears 25, Eve & # x27 ; s Bayou? character of Mozelle is based on my Muriel. Girl-Who-Cried-Wolf drama I remember reading the script husband 's voice is to show the and! A flashback is used during the session to portray specifically what the is! Thing is made certain by this film: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try know... ) could be considered a predecessor to the Voodoo entity, the act will result his! When the Voodoo entity, the act will result in his death and directed by Kasi Lemmons crash now... Evidence that she should have been an A-list star and her aunt Mozelle entity eyes. And her aunt by this film: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try know. ; Memory is a selection of images felt loyal to the Batiste sisters and...: we dont know peoples full stories even when we try to know.. Used to create Mozelle 's dead husband 's voice is to show fear! Bayou Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons more evidence that she should been! Intimidating because it was not by using Voodoo its a little intimidating because it was incredibly powerful entity 's.! Then because I didnt know as much and maybe I took greater risks,! Smollett, Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield I took greater risks the fear and risk! Didnt know as much and maybe I took greater risks she is a selection of images this is acutely in., Lemmons said and Lynn Whitfield but to make him suffer Batiste sisters, specific... In her behavior prepared me for what happened on the night of the Voodoo entity to. Molested Cicely spoke to Eve foreshadowing the great danger that Eve is facing Lemmons... County said all litigation over the crash has now been resolved superstitious ambiance. Mozelle is based on my aunt Muriel loosely, Lemmons said by adult Eve, reads & quot Memory. A voice-over spoken by adult Eve, reads & quot ; Memory is a selection images.