Paraíso: Esperanza

Ulirch Seidl's 'Paradise' trilogy focuses on female unhappiness: the first two movies were almost unwatchably painful, as they charted their protagonists' unfortunate plights and self-harming behaviour. The third film is not quite so gloomy, although its title 'Hope' is almost certainly meant ironically, but there is hope here, if only because it's younger characters still have the chance to turn around their lives. Equally, the film's purpose seems a little less clear than its predecessors: some overweight, but basically normal teenagers attend a weight-loss camp, where they face a measure of abuse from the adults who run it. The most poignant moment in the film comes when the lead character, the daughter of the protagonist in the first film, desperately calls her mother (who we know to be trapped in her own form of hell), a sign of a human bond that has hitherto not been revealed. Overall, it's still hard to know what to make of the trilogy, except as a series of observations on quite how hard it is to make meaningful connections with those around us.

The third and final movie of the 'Paradise' trilogy which sets in the summer holiday. Just like the previous two movies this one happens to the parallel timeline but in different locations with different theme and people. The movie which unfolds the story of 'Hope' of a teen girl and her summer vacation at weight loss camp. She was left there by her aunt and before that by her mother in her aunt's house. So all the three movies were interconnected by the characters from one family. And this, the last movie of the trilogy briefs the teenagers issues especially the fat ones and their perspective.

The 13 year old Melanie was sent to the weight loss camp in her summer holiday as per the agreement from her mother. As she joins the others from the camp her innocence seemed to be gone. Unexpectedly she undergoes her first love experience and expects to lose her virginity. On the other side of the story, the friends hangout and partying at late night puts further trouble to her relationship with whom she considered her boyfriend.

This final episode of the trilogy portrayed from a girl's angle which definitely stands as the title promised. The director again did not hesitate to give his new and experimental approach to the problems faced by the people in the contemporary world. His bold attempt is what gave us the three spectacular movies which deals on the different contents and characters. Definitely such movies are not made to make money. But to show the people from different parts of the world about the direction of travelling new culture over the old. These movies are not for entertainment, if you are aware what you watching and what's the purpose of it then you won't be a disappoint much. Like I said three movies, three different locations, three different people and for three different audiences (unless you are a movie buff who watch all the three).

We find out that Anna Maria has a niece and that she is a daughter of the women sex vacationing in Kenya. So trilogy starts to make sense.

Girls in their teens. The fat once. Fighting with pillows and talking about sex. But then the hairy Guy comes to train them and teach them how to try to loose fat. ;) I think that sending girls to the village is an idiotic thing, but girls who escaped, and went to a night club, dancing girls really gives us HOPE! I find this film weaker link of the other two. Especially the second one. Faith. Glaube. So powerful, that this one looks weaker. But it should not be underestimated. It should be watched together with other two. Very powerful trilogy!

Paradise: Hope is about 13 year old Melanie, which is sent on diet camp in the Austrian mountains, while her mother is on sex vacation in Kenya.

The third installment of the Paradise trilogy by Austrian Ulrich Seidl is not as great as the first two think. Still it's both interesting and funny, as an odd view of Austrian life. All film's are connected, as they are all about three persons in the same family, still they can without any problem be seen as individual films. But this, which I find the least interesting, is more interesting, if you think if the trilogy as a whole.

The three film's really worth a good discussion, and for a film club this is really something to enjoy. The films are all very realistic, and all are rising questions, without giving any answers. All the films balances ethical questions. What do we think about this, and that? It could all happen, not only in Austria, but elsewhere as well. Lines to cross, or not. Humans seeking out, trying, doing strange things, searching for either hope, God, emotions, recognition, satisfaction, life, entertainment... We could go on...

It's also interesting, this film as both a trilogy and as in it self, that it balances right and wrong with enjoyment/fun and sadness/tragedy, with seriousness and the comic of it all. It's a slice of life, of struggling with our demons. Seidel balances well. Keeps away from real controversy, but more than once approaches the nasty dilemma, but it's always terminated before it's getting really serious.

All films are kept in the same style, obviously, though filmed in very different environment. Slow, dwelling pictures, but never without any reason. The camera is still, often in a not to distant view, clinical, bleak. Still fresh and actually pastel. Probably not without reason, still not sure why.

Seidel is another very interesting Austrian director, which differs from the lot. Like Haneke he had a very distinct style. Very different from each other, and in a strong filming language. Simply interesting. I'm sure this trilogy will be seen upon as interesting for years to come. Deservedly so.

When this is only getting a 6/10 from me, as opposed to the better ratings for the first two, this is due to the lesser interesting and driving plot. It fades out without giving a real impression, and a small disappointment lingers, since the first was so good. Paradise: Love was interesting in any levels. If thus bad. Er the first, and he first the last, it would have given a greater impact. Maybe that is what Seidl wants us to discover. If I am to watch the three films again, I surely would reverse the trilogy, and try to discover if there's more to it than I saw during the first watch.