Eve's Bayou

Samuel L. Jackson stars in this seething slice of Southern Gothic, about the travails of a Louisiana family bedevilled by infidelity, incest and witchcraft.

Samuel L. Jackson stars in this seething and sultry slice of Southern Gothic that’s also a key work in 1990s black cinema. Jackson plays Louis, respected local doctor and head of the Batiste family. When his daughter Eve witnesses one of his infidelities, Louis’ status as a pillar of the community is threatened, leading to confrontations that can only be resolved through the time-honoured Louisiana traditions of voodoo.

Named by Roger Ebert as one of best films of 1997, Eve’s Bayou was deluged with critical acclaim upon release, even if it failed to translate its accolades into major awards success. With its intelligent and visually sophisticated treatment of a plot that’s pure pulp fiction, the debut film from director Kasi Lemmons established her as a major new talent in black American cinema.