Eden

An uninhabited island in the Galápagos is paradise and hell at the same time for a trio of couples who settled there in 1929. At one of the remotest areas on earth there is a clash of personalities; philosophical, libertine, and practical. While one couple seeks solitude, another wants to build a luxury hotel, and the third desires a nourishing place for family. As bugs and boars bite hard, and food and water become as scarce as doctors, police, and dentists, each couple is in for a shock. Darwin would be pleased, for on the island that gave him his fame it is survival of fittest all over again.

In this true story it is intriguing to see the starkly different personalities battle it out like in a miniature world. Ron Howard who was present at this screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, was captivated by the zany stories of the characters, and the good and bad of each of them. If anything, he said, he had to dial the antics back. It is hard to choose a side. Jude Law and the other actors are capable and convincing. Hans Zimmer orchestrated the playlist. How many soundtracks can one person do? I wish there was a little more depth to the dialogue, but Eden is a pleasure to watch and contemplate.

I went to watch this film with expectations, as it won the Camera d'Or at Cannes 2024, however very quickly I realized what a mistake i've done. The main actor is very talented, however the story is getting awkward after about 30 mintutes, so there is nothing to do from that point on, but sitting bored and waiting for the film to be over. I won't make any spoilers here, but only urge you to use your time better than I did and go to watch something else. God, I even saw some people leaving before the end, but I have a motto never to do that, even if the film is boring and awful. And this film is.

I went into this film completely blind, not knowing it was based on a true story.

By the end of it, I was underwhelmed. I feel like there were the makings of a pretty strong movie with its beautiful scenery, strong cast and realism due to the true story.

However, the themes of psychological isolation and social interaction were under developed. I feel like the movie never got into full stride exploring these themes effectively. There was too much waffle in between.

The makings of a psychological thriller were there but never reached the heights that we wanted. I strongly believe the film was too long and could've definitely benefited from a short run time thus making the better moments of the film feel more impactful.

Unfortunately, I believe Eden will fly under the radar despite its strong ensemble cast, decent cinematography and direction.

The entire island setup effectively mirrors human civilisation, albeit in a simplified and somewhat a naive miniature form, with three primary groups of individuals embodying personas we encounter in our daily lives.

Dr. Ritter and Dora represent the educated individuals with rebellious spirits, striving for peace and advocating for a new world order.

The Wittmer family signifies the typical household, who having escaped a tumultuous financial situation in their homeland and now seeking refuge on this beautiful yet isolating island.

Lastly, the Baroness and her associates who epitomise the greedy and manipulative faction; while they pursue ambitious plans for personal gain, they ultimately become the primary catalyst for the disarray and collapse of 'social order' within this small island.

I appreciate how these diverse dynamics intertwine and influence one another, much like they do in the real world. At its core, this narrative serves as a survival drama that adeptly illustrates how personal ambitions can overshadow mutual benefits, ultimately leading to moral degradation among its inhabitants.

As for the performances, Ana undeniably stands out as she embodies the cunning and nefarious self with remarkable skill. I must also commend Sydney, who, despite inheriting a limited role in the storyline, maintained her composure and delivered a nuanced performance that is both subtle and essential to the narrative; the same can be said for Vanessa too.

Conversely, the male characters lacked depth as they were mostly operating on one note; it would have been beneficial if the writing had provided them with more substantial material to capitalise on.

There is Eden in the title. But Where is the Eden?

The story sets on a beautiful island, should have been bright and vivid colors, but pictures of the movie looks like covered by some kind of filthy substance... well, let's not say that word.

Why are modern Hollywood movies full of grey yellow filters? Several other new films I've watched recently are also like this. Thunderbolts, Ballerina, Lilo & Stitch, all in "ugly color grading". Why?

Nowadays Hollywood films have already been poor quality in terms of story, at least make the picture pleasing to the eyes, not?

Back to Eden, this is a movie based on a true story. The story itself is fascinating enough. "A murder took place in Heaven". Color grading for dark atmosphere is completely unnecessary.

Because by doing this, you're erasing the drama of the story in strong contrast with its background, making it into a ordinary melodrama: "A murder that can happen anywhere"

Furthermore the setting of this story is also a character. What the audiences want to see is a murder story on a picturesque paradise-like island. Without it, the charm of the story will be greatly reduced.