Search - Belizaire the Cajun on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1986 DVD Release: 06/01/2004 Format: DVD Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Madacy Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Drama, Romance, Social Problem Film

This inexpensive but effusively energetic film is set in Louisiana's Cajun country of the 19th century. Belizaire (Armand Assante), unofficial spokesman for his people, butts heads with local bigots who want to rid the area of Cajuns. Belizaire's former girlfriend (Gail Youngs) is now the common-law wife of the film's main antagonist (Will Patton), the son of a wealthy landowner. When Patton is murdered, the locals try to pin the blame on the rabble-rousing Belizaire. He confesses, but only to save his cousin, who'd previously been targeted for lynching. All plot pieces fall into place on the day of Belizaire's scheduled execution. Although an American film, Belizaire the Cajun was unable to get US distribution until it was showered with praise at the Cannes Film Festival. Visually, the film is a banquet, but the multi-dialect soundtrack can be very difficult to follow at times. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Armand Assante - Belizaire Breaux
Gail Youngs - Alida Thibodaux
Michael Schoeffling - Hypolite Leger
Stephen McHattie - James Willoughby
Will Patton - Matthew Perry

Glen Pitre's woefully underappreciated Belizaire the Cajun arrives on DVD for the first time, nearly 20 years after its appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. Supplemental materials include biographies of the cast and crew. This is a less than breathtaking disc, but the inexpensive list price makes it worthwhile for any cinephile or those with an interest in the history of Louisiana. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide