Paradise

1991
PG-13
1h 51m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

3.3K

YOUR RATING

Thora Birch, Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, and Elijah Wood in Paradise (1991)

Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy. It would take a miracle to rekindle their love and a miracle arrives in the form of a summer guest - Willard Young.

Play trailer1:04

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Drama

Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson (at the time married to each other) play Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy. It would take a miracle to rekindle their love and... Read allMelanie Griffith and Don Johnson (at the time married to each other) play Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy. It would take a miracle to rekindle their love and a miracle arrives in the form of a summer guest - Willard Young played by Elijah Wood.Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson (at the time married to each other) play Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy. It would take a miracle to rekindle their love and a miracle arrives in the form of a summer guest - Willard Young played by Elijah Wood.

Director
- Mary Agnes Donoghue
Writers
- Mary Agnes Donoghue
- Jean-Loup Hubert
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

3.3K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Mary Agnes Donoghue
Writers
- Mary Agnes Donoghue
- Jean-Loup Hubert
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:04

Trailer

Photos52

+ 45

User reviews29

6.63.2K

Featured reviews

9obi-3

Great acting; critics unfairly treated this one

I remember Siskel & Ebert giving this film a thumbs down. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it, and how moved I was by the story. Don & Melanie are wonderful together. A bit slow moving in the story department but more than makes up for it with emotion and heart.

10bboop1104

Excellent performances help you feel their pain

This is a very sweet movie I have watched 3 times since renting it, and would have watched it more if I didn't have to take it back. I would love to own this movie so I could watch it at least once a week! Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson are wonderful as a married couple in a lot of pain, but still very much in love. Elijah Wood is excellent in his role. Both Melanie and Don do a wonderful job. Don Johnson is so gifted as an actor who can show so much emotion without ever uttering one word, it never ceases to amaze me. I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

jaenus

He can't stop impressing me

Remember "The Good Son" with Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin? Well McCauley was already famous, but Elijah was just starting. In this film, Elijah has a similar and very believable personality when he is stuck with a couple going through some rough times. It seems everybody seems to learn from his caring and honest manner as much as he learns from his life in the simple south. Melanie Griffith also does a good job in a very tough role, being hurt and numb after a very dramatic event in her life. Everything fits well in the plot and you can never really tell what the end will bring. Just a great all around film.

10RIGG64

best movie griffith ever made

Surprisingly good. The cinematography and screenplay were excellent. Griffith played the role beautifully as did Don Johnson. This was the only movie that I liked both actors in. Elijah Wood's best performance too. This movie should have been nominated for many awards. It isn't often that the screenplay, acting, setting and theme come together so poignantly and effectively. I'd give this movie a 10.

lizeroo

a gem

I was surprised and touched by this film, starring two actors I do not normally enjoy. The on-screen chemistry between Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, as grieving parents, isolated in their grief, was amazing. Elijah Wood is convincing in his role as a friend's child, visiting the couple, and going through his own family turmoil. Also excellent is Thora Birch, one of the most gifted child actors I have had the pleasure of watching. A wonderfully touching and uplifting film about hope and risk and coming home. One of my top five movies!

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Thora Birch beat out 4,000 other hopefuls in winning the role of Billie Pike.

Goofs
In one of final scenes where child actors say goodbye to each other, a glass vase of flowers behind Thora Birch's character keeps appearing and disappearing.

Quotes
Billie Pike: Have you ever seen a dead body?

Alternate versions
Early UK versions were cut by 21 secs and removed shots of the children watching a naked couple caressing in a barn. The cuts were waived in 2003.