Exclusive: Writer-Director Justin Chon talks Blue Bayou and bringing authenticity to his stories
Coming out this week from Focus Features is Blue Bayou, written, directed and starring Justin Chon along with Oscar winner Alicia Vikander.
An official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival from award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.
Best known for portraying Eric Yorkie in The Twilight Saga film series, Justin Chon has also acted in Revenge of the Green Dragons, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Dramaworld, and the 2018 movie High Resolution. He has also directed two films, Gook and Ms. Purple. Gook premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT Audience Award.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Chon as he spoke about bringing authenticity to his stories.