The true story behind Eden, the new Amazon Prime Video movie
Amazon Prime Video has recently released Eden, a gripping film directed by the acclaimed Ron Howard, known for masterpieces like A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code. Although the movie had a modest box office reception in the United States, it now aims to captivate a global audience through streaming. The film boasts an impressive cast featuring Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, and Daniel Brühl. What makes Eden particularly intriguing is its foundation in a real-life event that took place nearly a century ago, in the 1930s.
The film is a provocative thriller about survival, exploring the extremes to which humanity can go in the pursuit of happiness. It draws inspiration from a captivating mystery involving a remote island in the Galápagos where eight people attempted to start anew, but only a fraction survived. This true story reveals the complexities of human relationships and the quest for an ideal life away from societal constraints.
The real history of Eden begins with Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law), a German physician who, disillusioned by the rise of fascism and the economic crash of the time, decided to leave his homeland. Instead of emigrating to a more conventional destination like the United States, he chose a radical path: in 1929, he and his patient and lover, Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), settled on Floreana Island, located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador.
Dr. Ritter, a World War I veteran, suffered from nerve damage and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dore, meanwhile, battled multiple sclerosis. Their plan on Floreana was to create a utopia, establishing a new world order free from the corrupt systems that had plagued society. Their journey took a turn when an ocean expedition broadcaster discovered them on the island and shared their story, which quickly became a phenomenon. People were drawn to the tale of Ritter and Strauch, often referred to as the new Adam and Eve living in their own Eden.
Arrival of new visitors in Eden
As news of Dr. Ritter and his partner spread, three years later, in 1932, another German couple, Heinz and Margret Wittmer (Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney), decided to join them on the island. They were motivated by a desperate hope that the island's tropical climate would improve their sick child's condition. Heinz, a high-ranking official in the Weimar Republic, fled as the Nazis began to gain power.
Later that same year, a third group arrived: the flamboyant baroness Antonia Wagner von Wehrborn Bosquet (Ana de Armas), accompanied by two lovers, Rudolf Lorenz (Felix Kammerer) and Robert Philippson (Toby Wallace). Rumors surrounded her, suggesting she had committed a murder in Paris and was escaping the consequences, while others claimed she was married to a French war hero whose mother financed her departure due to familial disdain.
Regardless of their motives, the three groups coexisted on the island, each with their unique vision of utopia. For Ritter and Strauch, it meant living simply and austerely, while the Wittmers sought a stable family environment for their children. The baroness, on the other hand, envisioned the island as a setting for a luxurious hotel.
The daily life on Floreana
Life on Floreana was distinctly rustic. Adhering to their utopian ideals, Dr. Ritter removed all his teeth in preparation for a life devoid of dentists. The couple brought seeds to cultivate their own crops, supplementing their diet with eggs and other island fauna. They quickly adapted, often roaming their home without clothing, and Strauch even adopted a donkey as a pet.
The Wittmers hunted local wildlife for food and cultivated a garden, constantly battling against their livestock. Initially, the two couples maintained a cordial relationship, even hunting together. However, as time passed, tensions escalated. Both couples sent messages to loved ones by placing letters in barrels and launching them into the sea, hoping they would reach passing ships. Dr. Ritter even penned articles for Atlantic Monthly, which attracted additional visitors and curious onlookers.
In stark contrast, the baroness struggled to acclimate. Her behavior became increasingly erratic; she would injure animals only to nurse them back to health. She often carried a copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray as a sort of talisman, though the reason for this remains unclear. Additionally, she attempted to seduce tourists, including the explorer George Allan Hancock, though she was unsuccessful. Overall, her interactions with the Wittmers and Ritter and Strauch were minimal.
The unraveling of utopia
While Friedrich Ritter and Heinz Wittmer's rivalry intensified, the situation spiraled further when the baroness vanished mysteriously in 1934 alongside her lover, Philippson. Although Eden presents a fictionalized version of events, to this day, the fate of the baroness remains a mystery. Ritter accused the Wittmers of foul play, though this is widely disputed. Another theory posits that Rudolf, her other lover, conspired with Ritter to eliminate her.
Tragically, that same year, Dr. Ritter succumbed to illness after consuming spoiled chicken. The circumstances surrounding his death are dubious; there are indications he may have been poisoned, particularly as Dore began to fear him following the baroness's disappearance. Consequently, when Ritter was gravely ill, she hesitated to seek assistance. A year later, Dore left the island, leaving the Wittmers and Rudolf as the last remaining inhabitants.
The final tragedy of 1934 was Rudolf's death while attempting to escape the island on a Norwegian vessel. His body was found mysteriously on another Galápagos island a month later. Ultimately, in the true story behind Eden, the Wittmers emerged as the sole survivors on Floreana, and to this day, their descendants operate a hotel on the island.
Eden is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
For those interested in visual storytelling, you can check out the official trailer for Eden below:
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