Every week on Cinebuds sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors, Kristopher Pollard from Milwaukee Film and Radio Milwaukee’s Dori Zori review movies, tell you which ones are showing in our city and talk with the people who help bring them to the big screen.
This weekend marks the second time that Milwaukee Film will put their Michael Schultz Award in the hands of a well-deserving Black filmmaker. This year’s honoree is Kasi Lemmons, whose life in the film industry covers just about every major role — actor, director, writer, producer and more. So, to prep for the festivities, we devoted this episode to celebrating her nearly 50-year career.
Throughout that astounding run, Lemmons has offered a recognizable project for fans of every decade. In the 1980s, she got her start acting on shows like The Cosby Show, The Equalizer and As the World Turns. In the early ‘90s, it was big-screen appearances in indelible movies like The Silence of the Lambs and (perhaps most famously) Candyman.
Things started to shift in 1997, when Lemmons made her full-length feature directing debut with Eve’s Bayou, a critically acclaimed gothic drama toplined by Samuel L. Jackson and Lynn Whitfield. That’s where Dori and Kpolly’s focus lands in this episode, although Lemmons’ other work, like Talk to Me and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, make cameo appearances.
Here’s why our movie-loving duo sent their affection to Eve’s Bayou (which you can stream on Peacock as of this writing):
- The Southern Gothic atmosphere — Lemmons created that vibe herself, with the screenplay stemming from a series of short stories she wrote, set in a lush Louisiana world of Spanish moss and swamp-touched architecture.
- Complex families and representation — A well-off Black family takes center stage in the movie, which explores mature relationships, the impact of infidelity and realistic sibling dynamics experiencing grown-up tragedies.
- Unforgettable performances — From Samuel L. Jackson’s subtle and morally complex patriarch to Lynn Whitfield’s commanding screen presence to the beyond-their-years talent of then-child stars Jurnee Smollett and Meagan Good, the cast doesn’t put a foot wrong throughout the film.
- An investment in impact — With a budget of just $4 million, Lemmons and everyone involved with Eve’s Bayou created a piece of art that not only holds up almost 30 years later, but rightfully earned preservation status in the National Film Registry.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about the movie and the woman who guided its creation. Then help Milwaukee Film celebrate Lemmons at the three events happening this weekend at the Oriental Theatre:
- Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. — Screening ofCandyman
- Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. — Screening ofTalk to Me with director Q&A to follow
- Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. — Awards presentation, extended Q&A and screening ofEve’s Bayou
