Louisiana Sky

Starring:Juliette Lewis, Kelsey Keel, Shirley Knight, Amelia Campbell, Chris Owens, Karen Robinson, Michael Cera, Nola Augustson, Robert Haley, Rudy Webb, Neil Girvan, Jody Racicot, Ksenia Solo, Kerry Dorey, Barry Stillwell, Christine MacInnis, Maureen Kirkpatrick, Thomas Patrice
Director: Adam Arkin
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Tiger Ann (Kelsey Keel), a tomboy in 1950s Louisiana, has an upturned nose and the husky voice of a young Kathleen Turner. She lives in the country with her parents and Grandma Jewel (Shirley Knight). Her 12-year-old life appears to be perfect. It isn't. Her mother and father are "slow" and her grandmother can be bossy (though she's the engine that keeps the household running). To make matters worse, the townspeople aren't as understanding of her family's differences as Tiger has been taught to be of theirs. After Jewel passes away, Tiger's already precarious world is turned upside down and she finds herself longing for the glamorous city life of Aunt Dorie Kay (Juliette Lewis). My Louisiana Sky was directed by Adam Arkin (Chicago Hope) and movingly depicts the difference between the love of family (however messy) and the desire for approval (however lonely). For ages 7 and up. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

This provoking drama is set in rural Louisiana in the early 1950's. A 12-year-old girl(Kelsey Keel) has been forced to come to grips with the fact her parents are developmentally disabled. The family is held together by the girl's grandmother (Shirley Knight). Rich Aunt Dorie (Juliette Lewis)comes home to try and ease the family's woes.

Customer Reviews:

My Louisiana Sky.......2006-08-27

This is a genuinely heartwarming story. As a Southerner, I can vouch for its authenticity, its "realness." The portrayals of the central characters, especially Tiger, are true and done with love.
This is a great story for the young. It's equally great for those who aren't so young, but remember.

"You're not going to listen to him. He's simple.".......2006-08-23

The sticky sweet film "My Louisiana Sky" is told by twelve-year-old Tiger. It's the 1950s and Tiger (Kelsey Keel) lives in rural Louisiana with her grandmother (Shirley Knight) and her parents--mother Corrina (Amelia Campbell) and father, Lonnie (Chris Owens). Thanks to a childhood accident, Tiger's mother has the mental capacity of a six-year-old, while Tiger's father has a stammer and is "simple." These circumstances lead to some embarrassing moments for Tiger--especially in social situations. She's right at the age when she's suddenly aware that her parents aren't "normal" and being teased by schoolmates just makes it worse.

Tiger's glamorous Aunt Dorie Kay (Juliette Lewis) who lives in Baton Rouge arrives for her mother's birthday. To Tiger, her aunt is exciting and everything she longs to be. When a tragedy occurs, Aunt Dorie Kay takes Tiger away to Baton Rouge to live there--leaving Tiger's parents to fend for themselves as best they can.

"My Louisiana Sky" is based on a children's book by Kimberly Willis Holt, and what may work very nicely as a children's book, doesn't necessarily translate well to the big screen. The film, directed by Adam Arkin, ultimately, suffers from a number of flaws (including bad accents), but basically it's the story itself that's hard to suffer through. This is a coming-of-age tale, and there's the obligatory scene that scriptwriters feel compelled to include for some reason--we witness the moment when Tiger is suddenly struck with 'the curse' and she's told she's growing up. There are no subtle nuances to be found here in the characters--everything is black and white, and most of the dialogue is dreadful. For example, there's one scene when Tiger and her father are walking through the woods. He asks Tiger if she can hear the frogs croaking, and she says she can't (I'm not sure WHY she can't hear them--even I can hear them), but anyway, to Lonnie, frogs croaking means that it's going to rain. He tells her "if you listen to the earth, it talks to you." Tiger dismisses her father's claim that it's about to rain, and of course, he's proved right. This talent to predict the weather comes in handy, and provides the film's denouement.

With some great footage of the landscape and vegetation, perhaps "My Louisiana Sky" is passable entertainment for older children, or as a family film but it's sentimental, sickeningly sweet, and for this viewer, at least, painful to watch--displacedhuman

An endearing movie.......2006-05-14

This movie is wonderful. If you love Anne of Green Gables, this is the movie for you. Growing up with a disabled mother myself, I completely realated to the young girl. I couldn't stop crying all the way through. The ending left me wanting more. We just got a brief snipit of the lives of the characters. I would definitely welcome a sequel. It is just a heart-warming movie that I think all would enjoy. Oh and by the way, you don't have to be a southern to appreciate it.

Factual just like I remember it!.......2004-05-10

I Love this movie and ordered a gift copy to my sister who still lives in a small Louisiana town. You probably have to be a Southernor to appreciate all the nuances in this movie. For instance, no one actually refers to Aunt Dora as a prostitute, but it is alluded to in text and body language, the Southern way. To be fully aware, keep on your toes and observe to catch all the implications. Remember, most folks did not have a big income, a car, and they were not merchandise junkies, yet. I lived during this time and I found this movie to be authentic and factual including the food bounty at this country home, the friendships of both races, the love of the outdoors. Enjoy!

Awesome.......2003-07-10

This movie was awesome, I was actually in Kelsey Keel's class in eighth grade and she is as sweet in real life. I love this movie and would reccomend it to anyone!

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