Eve's Bayou MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2 1/2

Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) is the descendant of a legendary slave woman by the same name. In a time long ago, a wealthy plantation owner fell in love with one of his slaves and gave her a piece of land in a backwater Louisiana community, now known as Eve's Bayou. He also gave her sixteen children. The slave woman was a well-known voodoo psychic, and one offspring in each generation is gifted with the same power. Eve lives with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Batiste, and her teenage sister Cisely. They live in Tennessee Williams country, a moss-draped landscape where the material and spiritual worlds meet. Eve searches for her identity within the family whose stability seems on the brink of collapse. Her father sleeps with his female patients, her mother smothers the children, and her sister has an unnatural affection for her father. But with the spiritual guidance of her psychic aunt, Eve finds her place in this locale where truth and its perception change shape, depending on the light of day. This film will draw moderate crowds, and will appeal to art-film buffs the most.

Eve is a strong child who thrives despite the dysfunctional behavior of all the other family members. She serves as a good role model for children in similar circumstances. However, the adult theme and offensive elements make EVES BAYOU unacceptable viewing for children. Sex, and especially adultery, is implied many times, but no nudity is shown. One scene involves the teenage daughter kissing her drunk father passionately, but as soon as the father comes to, he pushes her away. The dialogue contains ten crude words and nine obscenities. The Lord's name is taken in vain seven times. And several threats are made by adults to children including "I'll slap you blind" and "I'll kill you." But perhaps the most offensive element is the inclusion of voodoo. Several characters display a belief in voodoo, and they even mix it with a perverted form of Christianity. The voodoo curse that Eve places on her father works, and he dies from a shooting. Although Eve might serve as a good role model for children, EVES BAYOU is not recommended viewing for any age.

Preview Reviewer: Jason Shepherd
Distributor: Trimark Pictures, 2644 30th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405-3009