One of a beautiful movie I’ve watched this year. Sadly, movie qualities, contents and creativity are becoming diminished in recent years. However once in awhile good movies are coming out – although wonderful movies are becoming as rare as once in a blue moon.
Eden, not only carried true events as its backbone which made it interesting enough, the story which resembled a small community and the challenges was another high light of it. Beautifull plays by its main characters well portraited by great actors and actresses specially Jud Law, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas and even Sydney Sweeney, couldn’t be dismissed.
Personally, I loved how social challenges can change people’s main life goal and character when they face new challenges raised by citizens of a local community. Some beautiful reflection on Nietzsche’s quotes and teachings and how a philosophy can shape one’s life and destiny were well documented. Some deep and profound conversation made me pause the movie and reflect on the in-depth dialogue conversed between characters. And most of all the creation of hierarchy in a community (as small as two or three families) by nature, was mesmerizing.
- Dr. Fredrich Ritter: What is the purpose of life? You’re having a child, so there must be some reasons for it.
Margaret Wittmer: Because we want one!
Dr. Fredrich Ritter: Why?
Margaret Wittmer: Because family is everything to us! (with smile)
Dr. Fredrich Ritter: Why? (looking for deeper answer)
Margaret Wittmer: Because it is!
Dr. Fredrich Ritter: Because you say it is?!
Margaret Wittmer: No because the world says it is. Dr. Fredrich Ritter: Oh! The world! (trying to show his point) you are still part of the herd!
These simple short whys and answers remind me of a technique used in counselling session when one tries to get to the depth and cause of a problem or to reach clarity on a topic. Beautifully reflects how our choices can be determined by outside sources just because the outside community or people define. And how one should go deeper to find a personal reason for his or her actions and important decisions in life (choice like leaving the city life behind and come to a wildlife of an island living in solitude).
2. Baroness: Power is nothing without respect
Respect and power, two major quality mankind does anything to achieve. These two became the strong motive for people of different societies. Two themes that become primary purpose of some people (specially those in need of recognition) to the point that they are willing to do anything to be able to get them. And along the way we can see how these two elements has created challenges in our societies, specially leading to political adventures which may lead to lives of thousands and even millions to despair!
3. Baroness: Dogs are like (hu-)men. First, you must hurt them, then nurse them back to health. E Viola! They love you forever!
If one reflects on human history specially after major events like the first and second world wars, one can distinguish how humanity left their faith in the hand of politicians to be able to meddle and control (almost everything related to human lifestyle and life quality), all for the sake of gaining respect through power.
In this part of the movie the transition to dominance of few over the mass by nature and nurture are beautifully shown. No wonder this movie is based on a real event!
4. Dr. Fredrich Ritter: Do not run from pain. Embrace it. Pain gives us purpose. Pain gives us meaning. Pain tells us we are alive. Do not be ruled by the so-called Pias amongst us. They are false idols who want to control us with their morals. We must block them out. Likewise, do not be seduced by the ……. So, we must destroy them first. Because our purpose is more noble. NO! No! Our purpose, our purpose, our purpose is….
Right after killing a boar (which was against his decision to be friendly with nature to the point that he became vegetarian) and in facing despair, anxiety and pain, caused by another fellow human. Man starts to label those whom he doesn’t like or sees not aligned with his life vintage point.
In this part of the movie, we can clearly see how a person who decides to do good and be good, drops his mask and return to his primate roots some how destructive and we can see once a symbol of gentleness and strength is now shattering to the point that he no longer can find his once noble life purpose.
I love this part so much that I can see how fragile a person can become. Solitude may make us strong but it is the ability to live with another people (good or bad) by accepting our differences and flaws that strengthen us beyond measures.
5. When Curtains Falls (I like the title, I gave to this part of this movie!!!)
Baroness: I am the embodiment of perfection!
This part made me laugh as I remembered Steven He’s meme where he said “Emotional Damage”! While the baroness tries to use her seduction as a tool to fool others, she fails to see the results as the captain George Allan tells in her face that she is a Fake and Fraud. We can see when ones self-claimed powerful and respected is actually no one in the eyes of many. Here again we can see how painful can self-destructive could be, when a person realizes his or her efforts to gain power and respect through anything (even inhumane actions) can actually be ill faithed.
No matter how many times a person tell himself or herself how respective and powerful he/she is, it won’t change the reality of darkness created by the person.
Cause deep down the person know, its just words and words can be false. After all actions are louder than words.
In the movie, baroness faces only three options to follow after such situation, acceptance, anger or denial.
6. One of the best shots I love in the movie:
A noble man can decline carrying a mule. The downfall path is not necessarily steep; it could be gradual leading to emptiness. (A title I chose for this scene)
7. Dore Strauch: We came here to do the greatest thing. But all you do is waste your taste try to out witch your neighbors.
Dr. Fredrich Ritter: They’ve ruined my life.
Dore Strauch: No Fredrich. You ruined your life. You betrayed the cause.
The only character who tried to stick to her purpose till the end (even after her purpose betrayed her) was Dore. She tried to keep reminding the values, the goal and the reasons of their noble decision. But sadly, when law of jungle governs, people of noble cause become isolated and victim of the circumstances. The nice portray of a true believer to a noble cause, Dore, stayed faithful to the max she could. But what if the cause became gone by self-destruction!
This brings us to the final chapter of the movie:
8. The lapse and downfall;
Dr. Fredrich Ritter: I’ve had a break through (hysterically laughing). Men (human) is always put above animals, by Nietzsche, by Christianity. But our animal instincts, are our inner true. We hunt, we fight, we f*ck, we kill. That is the purpose of life. For then thousand years we’ve run from ourselves. No more!
Dore’s reaction (beautifully played by Vanessa Kirby – one of my favorite actresses) says it all. That single drop of tear on her left eye, is the hopelessness blooming in the depth of sadness.
Honestly, I didn’t mean to have such a long review but I couldn’t help it. My mind wondered in small details and beauties engraved in profound quotes and dialogues (which I had to skip others), beautiful acting of brilliant actor (Jude Law) and actresses (Vanessa Kirby and, de Armas and Sydney Sweeney), and mesmerizing few single shots and camera angles (Like the shot I called Decline).
Amongst characters I cannot behind Margarett behind, as how a young inexperience woman pushed in a midst of fight of grownups have to face her own life challenges brought upon her by strangers and loved ones. And she alone has to make the necessary decisions and how such a character turned matured along the way. Seeing her grow from disregarded low level inferior immature girl to a lady matured enough to create her own destiny was unbelievable.
The movie is worth watching not only because it is based on True Story, not only because it was a beautiful production, but also because it shows us ourselves as a person and as community. And how they can be both be different, shaped and or destroyed easily. Watch it!!!
“Democracy leads to Fascism, Leads to War. Democracy, fascism, war, repeat.”
-Dr. Fredrich Ritter