Belizaire the Cajun Rating: Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Armand Assante Gail Youngs Robert Duvall Will Patton Complete Cast (7 total)

Belizaire the Cajun Reviews

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An Unknown, First-Rate Movie
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.

If you're fond of Cajun life and music, enjoy a good story, and want to get a better glimpse of Cajun history, this is a movie well worth having.

Low-budget jewel
Assante brings a Cajun joie de vivre to this film that is refreshing, funny, and just completely delightful, from his lovemaking to his speech from the gallows. A gentle, fun movie with some historical insight and social commentary as well, anyone looking for a sleeper they probably missed should grab this up before it disappears (again!).

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