My Louisiana Sky (2001 TV Movie) User Reviews

A coming of age drama set in the deep south.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 1 June 2001]

Adam Arkin directs this thought provoking drama set in rural Louisiana in the early 1950's. So much can happen to a young girl in just one summer. 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.

Tender and quite touching. Well worth watching.

Good family drama

[mttraveler-78910 · 7/10 · 20 November 2022]

It proves that family is important no matter who they are or what we think is wrong with them, or ourselves.

It also proves we don't have to have all the filthy language in a movie for it to be interesting and encouraging.

Kelsey Keel deserved the Emmy she received for a great performance as the focal character in this story.

Another aspect is the apparent lack of sophistication of some characters, definitely does not signify a lack of importance to their family or community.

This is an excellent lesson in human value regardless of mental state, race, sex, social standing, or location

I hope you take the time to watch it.

a very nice movie, Juliette Lewis is very endearing

[kattrin22 · 8/10 · 10 July 2004]

I don't believe I've ever seen Juliette Lewis (JL) in a movie before so this was a good way to be introduced to her. I agree with the other comments about her doing well with her voice-I could just listen to her speak (kind of like how I feel about enjoying the way the British, Australians,and New Zealanders speak no matter what they are talking about). I found it was kind of like Anne of Green Gables (AGG) as well since the little girl in the movie who did some great acting wants to be known as Anne when she is in Baton Rouge is in order to "reinvent herself" like her aunt says. She did have a tomboy, tough side to her like Anne Shirley, and her grandmother did seem to be like the woman who takes in Anne to live with her and Matthew on the farm in AGG. She definitely isn't up to the acting talent of Megan Follows (where is she now-I'd love to see her in more movies) but still she does a commendable job. I think the woman that played the girl's mother in this movie was quite believable as a woman who had some mental difficulties. At the beginning I was wondering if the sister who had gone on to better things would be kind of prissy to everyone like she was overly glad to get out of the little farm area but I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was very gentle, kind, and loving to all. I would have liked to know exactly what her job was as she was referred to as a "working girl" from Magnolia, but what did she actually do that made her afford having someone take of the house, how she can have such a great car, clothes, and even mention putting Anne in a private school someday. That was the only question mark I found in the movie and I was glad to see the father be seen as a smart (yet slow) guy when he helped protect the plants at the nursery. Another part of the storyline I think they could have expanded on is having the father's boss congratulate him of making wise choices in regards to the plants when the big storm hit-he mentions he wants him to take of things but it would have been nice to have closure w/the boss coming back to say thanks for all his help.

deep character development

[brianjmcc05 · 10/10 · 3 March 2005]

This movie is very helpful in understanding people, why we all are the way we are. Each character is extremely well acted and leaves the viewer understanding them, and feeling deeply for them. As the film progresses, we are moving with them in their situations,and begin to understand why we all do things that seem to be just not the way we thought they would go. The scenery and setting all tell the story beautifully, and the ending is brought together perfectly to leave us with a feeling of everything can be whatever we can make it to be. Sadness, guilt, relief, all the feelings we all experience every day. All brought together wonderfully in this great film. This is one of those films that makes us remember what it was like to be a child, what we became as adults, as we learned to judge ourselves and others, how it is to see loved ones hurt and to feel loss. I was greatly surprised by everyone in this film, because I initially watched it because I admire Juliette Lewis, and she is tremendous in this film, but everyone else matches her. This is one of those films that stays with you, and makes you want to watch it over and over.

Kelsey Keel as "Tiger Ann" is the real star.

[TxMike · 21 November 2001]

SPOILERS - This "Louisiana Sky" was filmed in Canada, using many Canadian actors, and the accent of the characters is far from authentic Louisiana. Get that bit of misery out of the way and it is a pretty good movie. Little action, long on character development and family values. The title could have as easily been "My Mississippi Sky" or "My Boston Sky." Set in 1957, we learn, because that is the summer hurricane "Audrey" cut through Cameron. It is set in north Louisiana, we see, as the bus Tiger Ann takes home is headed for Alexandria from Baton Rouge.

Tiger Ann is a normal, exceptionally bright, hard-working country girl of almost-13. Her grandmother taught her a new word every day, and was her functional mother. Her mother had her intellectual and emotional development frozen at about age 6 because of a fall from a tree. And her dad was just a bit of a hard-working and responsible simpleton. When grandma dies in the field, of a heart attack, the family is put into a whirlpool of turmoil. Tiger Ann visits Baton Rouge with her aunt, considers living there with her, but in the end realizes her mom needs her.

In this day of shoot-em-up Hollywood films, this one is a refreshing relief. Young Kelsey Keel as "Tiger Ann" is wonderful, I hope we see her in more films soon. The DVD is a true "budget" DVD, no menu, no extras, only ProLogic sound. However, it is adequate and the picture is top rate.

Kelsey Keel makes this movie

[Casey-52 · 10/10 · 27 June 2002]

I might be completely biased because Kelsey Keel is a local girl from my neck of the woods who went to high school across the street from me, but she is superb in this film. After winning two Awards for her work in this film (a Daytime Emmy and a Young Artist Award), I hope she continues to find work in films and ages with grace and maturity on-screen. Juliette Lewis and Shirley Knight provide able support, but the fact that the entire film is shown from Tiger Ann's point of view only provides Keel with some magnificent characterization and plenty of screentime that should have earned her star billing. Magnificent coming of age story that should be seen by audience members of all ages that suffers from being shown on ShowTime and seeing a less than adequate home video release.

Beautiful!

[Lee-107 · 9/10 · 2 May 2005]

I loved Adam Arkin in 'Chicago Hope'! So I looked forward to watching 'My Louisiana Sky' just to see how he had directed it. And I must say I'm quite impressed! I find something intrinsically noble in people who make films like these - small budget, relationship-driven... films that successfully capture an age and an experience and leave an impression on the viewer... 'My Louisiana Sky' is a beautiful languorous film that explores a phase in a young girl's life as she deals with the various predicaments in her life - her mentally challenged parents, her friend Jesse Wade whose crush on her causes her much anxiety, her accomplished aunt whose life in the city she wishes to lead etc... Kelsey Keel is brilliant in the part! And the rest of supporting cast - Shirley Knight, Juliette Lewis, Amelia Campbell, Chris Owens etc are also really good!

I cannot believe that this film was actually shot in Toronto! The locations were so beautiful and seemed so rural and idyllic! I must say that that city has an amazing chameleon-like quality to appear like other cities and towns! Someone here has commented that this film seems like 'Anne of Green Gables'. I've been a big fan of the 'Anne' books and the films made by Kevin Sullivan. 'My Louisiana Sky' didn't really seem to me to be Anne-like, but perhaps likenesses could be traced... I'm reminded of 'Paradise' that starred a very young and adorable Elijah Wood and Thora Birch! 'Paradise' is not a period film and neither is it a coming-of-age film like 'My Louisiana Sky', but it's got the same rural idyllic atmosphere and is also set in the South, and the camaraderie between Wood's and Birch's characters in 'Paradise' is quite like Tiger Anne's and Jesse Wade's here!

Just hope more films like 'Paradise' and 'My Louisiana Sky' get made! Kudos to Adam Arkin! :)

Good Southern film.

[zbot007 · 26 May 2002]

This drama, set in the early 50's, depicts one summer of a small town girl's life. Tiger Ann Parker (Kelsey Keel) is a tomboy, raised on the farm by her grandmother and mentally defficient parents. She is "coming of age" at a whopping 12 years old and her emotions and other factors are making life difficult for her. Death, embarrassment and innocent teen romance give this girl a run for her money as she deals with life. An overall good family movie. Kelsey Keel should be looking at more jobs in the near future, if not a young talent has been sorrowfully missed.

Aaron

Brilliantly realized adaptation of coming-of-age novel

[aromatic-2 · 9/10 · 21 March 2003]

This is a winning and whimsical tale of a girl coming-of-age in rural Louisiana in the 1950's. Kelsey Keel has a winning debut as Tiger Ann, the central character. And her chemistries in the three main relationships with her grandmother (Shirley Knight), retarded mother (Amelia Campbell), and sophisticated aunt (Juliette Lewis) are superb. The costumes are delicious. And the emotions are genuine. Adam Arkin does a great job getting an honest salt-of-the-Earth feel from building a brilliantly realized Canadian abstraction of the time and place. This is one movie worth watching even if you already read the book.

Beautiful and original story for everyone

[smiledaydream · 10/10 · 10 July 2022]

This is a jewel of a movie. Definitely a story I haven't seen before. And it's a beautiful place and time. Every character is perfectly interesting and perfectly portrayed. Not a moment of this movie is wasted. And it's also great for everyone. A movie you can share with the whole family. I love this movie. As I got ready to post I saw that the Director was Adam Arkin. I've always loved the work of he and his father. They have a fantastic authenticity.

I absolutely love this movie

[Dodibird · 10/10 · 4 May 2022]

What a wonderful family friendly movie. I'm so glad that I stumbled across this gem! The absolute only negative thing I could possibly say is that it left me wanting more! It didn't have a bad ending at all, it was just a movie that I didn't want to end. The first thing I did after it ended was looked to see if there was a sequel. I sure hope there will be one someday. There's definitely plenty of room for it.

Full Moon Day

[tedg · 16 October 2001]

Spoilers herein.

I watched this because of Juliet Lewis. Her acting style fascinates me: she is a vocal stylist rather than a full body actress, and her characters are created from the modulating of dialects. That's why she seeks out lowlife and southern parts, I think.

`Gilbert Grape' and `Kalifornia' were strong vehicles for her and it was interesting to see her work her voice. Even "Killers" and "4th Floor." This movie borrows from both: retarded southern lowlifes, but with a Hallmark, rosey glow. The story itself is offensively trite, but I was surprised how well cast it was: the four female leads all were of this same school of practiced voices.

I `watched' it again with only the sound. It was not only improved, but I became more impressed with Ms Lewis. The director has something to be ashamed of so far as the subject matter, but he surely had some interesting insight into how to assemble a cast with consonant acting styles.

The Summer Of Hurricane Audrey . . . .

[sundayatdusk-97859 · 9/10 · 12 March 2024]

This is a true family film and an exceptional one at that. Tiger Ann is a 12-year-old living in a rural town in Louisiana, with her parents and grandmother. It is the summer of 1957 and the family is celebrating her grandmother's birthday. The viewer soon notices there is something odd about Tiger Ann's mother. She acts like a child! Her father, too, obviously has some developmental problems, but holds a job at a nursery, and is considered the best employee there by his boss.

When Tiger Ann's aunt comes from Baton Rouge for the birthday, she notices the conflict between her and her grandmother. She also is becoming more aware of how other kids view her mother, and how the family has less money than others. Her glamourous aunt, on the other hand, is a working girl, with a beautiful car and apartment. Tiger Ann wants to be like her, instead of the hard working farm girl she is in the summer, where she has to take care of chicks, as well as pick fruits and vegetables.

Tragedy strikes that summer in two big ways, and Tiger Ann might get what she wishes for, but is it truly what she wants? While all the actors in this film are great, I thought Chris Owens was the most exceptional one of them all. As Tiger Ann's father Lonnie, he created a memorable character impossible to ever forget. This is the type of film you fear is going to be either too depressing or too sugary, but it turns out to be neither, and you are so glad you saw it.