Alicia Vikander Interview: Blue Bayou | Screen Rant
Blue Bayou may feature unforgettable performances by stars Alicia Vikander (The Green Knight) and Justin Chon (Deception), but the power of the film lies in the important message it seeks to convey. Chon, who wrote and directed the feature himself, plays a young man named Antonio who is about to be torn from the only home he's ever known just when his family needs him most.
Despite being legally adopted and sent to the United States as a child, and despite being married to Louisiana native Kathy (Vikander) with a growing stepdaughter and a baby on the way, one altercation with a cop sees him possibly facing deportation. Up against what seems like impossible odds, Antonio and Kathy must muster up the resilience to keep their family together and fight for their home.
Prior to the movie's September 17 release, Vikander spoke to Screen Rant about what moved her most in the script and how she transferred the emotions she felt from the page to the screen.
Screen Rant: I was so blown away by Blue Bayou, not just by the story and the performances, but just by how powerful the message was. I was wondering how much you knew about adoptee deportations before you started the project, and what was most upsetting or interesting for you to learn?
Alicia Vikander: I wasn't aware until I read Justin's script. To be honest, I finished the last page, and I think I went straight online because I wanted to read about those. I also then realized it's not an American issue - this has happened all over the world.
You can have different views about immigration or politics, but this is not about that. The crazy thing is, these are children who are legally adopted into our country. And then because some legal papers haven't been finalized properly, they're not citizens, and then they can be deported away from their homes and their families and children [by the government]. I just couldn't believe that, because you wouldn't believe that that can be possible.
The truth is, nowadays the laws have had to change. If you come as an adopted child legally and you land on American soil, then you are an American citizen. So, this is just a very, very sad situation for the thousands of adopted children throughout the world who have ended up in this loophole.
I loved how real and lived-in Antonio and Kathy's relationship felt. What was it like crafting that dynamic with Justin?
Alicia Vikander: I give that to Justin. He's such a fantastic person, and I think from the first time we had a Zoom [call], I was already a fan. I saw Gook when it came out at Sundance a few years back, and I had been very curious to see what he was going to do next. And then I read the script, and it was through our conversation that I just felt pretty immediately that I really wanted to be part of the project and work with him.
Thankfully, when we met up, it was just as easy. From when I landed in Louisiana, I was just amazed to see him work. He's incredibly impressive; he both direct and acts, and he does beautifully. But he also is - which I think goes for any good actor and director - very good with people. So then to form that relationship, which was needed at the core of the story, was just a joy.
Blue Bayou will release in theaters on September 17.