Belizaire the Cajun

Customer Reviews:

Long time favorite!.......2007-03-24

This is one movie I watch over and over. I love that it covers a part of American history that most of us do not know, I love the language, the actors, the plot and the music by Michael Doucet.

Belizaire the Cajun.......2006-08-04

The movie had a great cast and was well-written. I would definitely recommend it to others.

On my most favorite list.......2006-04-11

I first picked this up out of the bargain bin at the video store. I was mostly interested in the music. I had seen another movie with a Cajun story line called "Southern Comfort" and discovered I loved the music. So, I bought Belizaire b/c I wanted to have the music. And make no mistake, the music is great! But I was majorly surprised at how wonderful the movie is! I stand in agreement with the other reviewers - this is well worth owning. Its one you'll want to see repeatedly. I know I still enjoy it every time I watch it, and its been many times over the years.

Bayou a copy right now, you!.......2004-12-08

A genuine sleeper that I never thought would make it to DVD! The story takes place in pre-Civil War Louisiana. Armand Assante ("I The Jury", "The Mambo Kings") delivers a one-of-kind performance as a charismatic Cajun healer/con man who is elected by fate into becoming the pivotal figure in a powderkeg situation involving racist persecution. The film unfolds like a classic myth, or a great lost American folktale. Director Glen Pitre (of Cajun ancestory himself) immerses you in a time and place of American history where few have tread. You could call this a realistic "western" ("southern"?) adventure in the tradition of "McCabe & Mrs Miller", "Zandy's Bride", "The Hired Hand" or "Days Of Heaven". Like the aforementioned films, "Belizaire the Cajun" eschews traditional "action" scenes for engaging character development. While there are the requisite gunfights, "posse" chases and public hanging scenes, it never rings a false note; it all plays very "real". There is actually quite a bit of humor, despite the serious themes, making this film a great all-around entertainment. Memorable gallows scene toward the end is a near-classic all by itself. The 2004 DVD release sports a "less than pristeen" full-screen transfer, but the original print was low-budget to begin with. The audio is decent and the list price more than fair. Well worth your time.

An Unknown, First-Rate Movie.......2004-07-17

I bought the VHS tape of this movie years ago on the recommendation of a person I met in a small Cajun town in Louisiana. It was hard to find then and I'm not sure the VHS version is even available now. But the movie just came out on DVD and the price was right. It's just as interesting as when I saw it the first time. The DVD transfer is better than acceptable and easy to watch.

The movie takes place in Louisiana just before the Civil War. Anglo vigilantes are riding at night to force out the Cajuns, whom they consider undesireable. Belizaire Breaux is a healer and a fast-talker. In the opening we watch him talk the local priest into reducing a penance. He's also honorable, in his way. A Cajun woman he has always loved has married one of the Anglo leaders of the vigilantes. Some people are killed, Belizaire is falsely accused, justice -- through Belizaire's quick thinking and fast talking -- wins out. A great scene is Belizaire on the scaffold with the noose around his neck giving out his charms and potions to the sympathetic crowd, and in the process makes the murderer come forth.

Armande Assante as Belizaire does a great job. In fact, the whole cast does. They look and act like real people, and real Cajuns. A lot of them were. This was Glen Pitre's first full-length movie, as far as I can tell, and was made on a shoestring with help from Robert Redford and Robert Duvall. And it promptly disappeared from sight as soon as it was released.