Are there really Cajuns living like this in the southern USA?

[deleted]

Without a doubt there are relatively remote communities that play to some extent by their own rules. It's a global phenomenon. For example, some of these people feel that certain laws and restrictions don't apply to them and their situation, especially if they feel that the rules are unjust, and they might prefer to solve their community's issues internally. That means, if you try to steal somebody's boat, you might get your ass shot at, even if it were against the law. If you get out of line, it's pretty much common practice to kick you back in, instead of resorting to legal action. There's a reason for these communities becoming close-knit: Help is always too far away, so you have to rely on your neighbors in emergencies.

Not exactly isolated (they weren't in the movie either), but still far (geographically) from "civilization". It really isn't all that uncommon either in the western world, all that is really needed is a significant distance to the nearest major city. But yes, it was just a Hollywood dramatization. These isolated communities usually are just as moral (sometimes even more) and the people often have a very clear sense of right and wrong.

----
Rated R for violence, sexuality, and language.

"real" country living is becoming scarcer by the second in rural america due to suburban sprawl. for instance, where i live, just north of pittsburgh. the alleghany valley. sure i live in the city, but just a few miles down the highway and up into the mountains and your in gods country. well, that is until they build a wal mart, and then a fancey housing developement, and then a movie theater and even more housing. chop down all the woods and force all the locals out and then what do you have? white america. until black folks start moving in then they move farther out into the wilderness until there is no more wilderness left and we are all forced to live together in harmony, in say a hundred years or so :)

are there really isolated Cajun/hillbilly villages and towns like this in the deep woods of Louisiana

Yes, they are there. If you'll look at a map of Louisiana, on the far western border with Texas is the largest man-made lake in the US, Toledo Bend. Used to be you could fish the whole thing with either state's license. The poachers from the Louisiana side almost ruined the fishery there. Nothing against Louisianans as they ain't all that way, but there are a lot of hillbillies/rednecks etc. that live a lot like those depicted in the movie. I know because I have relatives in both states real close to the area I'm speaking of.

There are no more friendly civilians, sir.

I don't know about Cajuns. But there are rural poor people all over the United States.