Features the Cajun music and singing of Michael Doucet and Beausoleil.
Writer and Director Glen Pitre was inspired by the story of Horace Guidry, a nineteenth century Louisiana "traiteur" (healer) much like the fictional title character Belizaire. Guidry also had Belizaire's silver tongue and got into a predicament very similar to the one portrayed in the film.
A country dance with Cajun music is featured in the film, and is referred to as a "fais do-do" without explanation. The term is Cajun French baby talk for "go to sleep" (probably shortened from "Tu fais dormir"). The origin of its association with community dance parties is believed to be that (as seen in the film) families brought their children to the dance and put them in a room where they were expected to sleep, despite the loud music in the next room, a consequence of there not being any way to leave the children at home under anyone's supervision when the whole community was at the dance.
This film was shot in only thirty-six days and used mostly Acadia Parish, Louisiana's local talent.
The main location was a nineteenth century village near Lafayette, Louisiana, that was maintained for tourists. Use of this town kept costs down, requiring carpenters to build only a few additional sets.