Eden

I recently saw the film myself on The Movie Channel. I thought it was moving, intelligent, and strangely artful in the depiction of person struggling with MS. I did find some editing moments, particularly the end when the police arrive to arrest Dylan Walsh's character crosscutting with Joanna Going character's rebirth, a little raw but for a first feature, the dirth of moods, characters, and setting was commendable. Can't wait for Mr. Goldberg's next feature.

I recently discovered this film gem. It is a stunning portrait of a woman trapped both in her body and life circumstances--caged physically (by Multiple Sclerosis) and spiritually (by the constraints of pre-feminist 1960's social expectations). It takes place at a New England all-boys prep school (rendered here better than Dead Poets' Society). All three leads (Joanna Going, Dylan Walsh, and Sean Patrick Flannery) give performances they have yet to repeat. Howard Goldberg's writing is whip smart, yet his direction has a delicate touch which, no doubt, adds to the actors' superb, nuanced performances. This film can't help but resonant with any owner of a human soul, but certainly has acute resonance for anyone who has ever felt anchored to this earth by a physical challenge; an uncooperative body or a life path chosen in youth, haste, or simpler times. There is a caged bird metaphor which in the hands of someone less smart and perceptive as Goldberg could seem ham-fisted, and yet here literally and figuratively soars. There is nothing not wonderful about this film. I could not recommend it more highly. After seeing it, I felt that giddiness you feel when you feel like you and you alone have discovered something sublime.

This is a beautiful film about a woman escaping into a cycle of involuntary astral projection experiences and making the difficult decision of coming back to her body and her life. For anyone who has suffered through the limitations of physical disability or disease, this film is a gift. And it's recommended viewing for anyone who wishes to gain an understanding of illness and death. Should be seen by every medical practitioner in the country.

For me, the interesting thing about this film was seeing the possibility that while the woman was unconscious, she was actually having out of body experiences and feeling at peace in a beautiful spiritual cosmic sense. Of course, not everyone with MS is likely to be having the same experience but it had never occurred to me that someone with MS might be experiencing that. I've known people with MS who could no longer communicate and I sincerely hope they felt something close to that.

This movie could be a hit if they'd edit out the kids and the crow...

I watched it on TIVO sped through it the first time (gave it one thumbs down). For some odd reason (guess the description caught my attention) I TIVOd it again.

This time I let it run on a Sunday afternoon whist cooking an early dinner...sorta like company. When the scene where Joanna describes the human body as a vehicle (I like container) caught my eye/ear I began to pay attention.

From that point forward, I found that Helen (Going) and Dave (SPF) interactions to be quite engaging.

I finally sat down to eat when Helen asked the boys if they'd ever seen their bodies from above. I relaxed, ate my steak and watched the rest of the movie.

I loved the ending line so much I played it a couple of times and decided to "watch" Eden a third time.

I found that I was speeding through the painful and superfluous family footage stopping only for the interactions of Helen and Dave.

As a video editor, it was clear to me that a really great, interesting spiritual movie could be cobbled together using the existing cut. Simply by editing out the kids and the crow a terrific movie would emerge..try it yourself.

There are so many great monologues and dream sequences in this movie it'd be worth the effort just to get the message out.