We Eat the Fruit of the Trees of Paradise (1970) Ovoce stromu rajských jíme (original title)

Director:

Vera Chytilová

Writers:

Vera Chytilová (dialogue)
Ester Krumbachová

Release Date:

31 July 1970 (Czechoslovakia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Fruit | Couple | Black Comedy | Tree | Feminism

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jitka Novákova	...	Eva
Karel Novak	...	Josef
Jan Schmid	...	Robert
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julius Albert	...	Old man (uncredited)
Alice Auspergerová	...	Aunt (uncredited)
Jan Klusák	...	Robert (voice) (uncredited)
Ludek Sobota	...	Man with flowers (uncredited)
Josef Somr	...	Josef (voice) (uncredited)
Jaromír Vomácka	...	Uncle (uncredited)

Directed by
Vera Chytilová

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Vera Chytilová		dialogue
Ester Krumbachová

Produced by
Pavel Jurácek	....	producer
Jaroslav Kucera	....	producer
Bronka Ricquier	....	producer

Original Music by
Zdenek Liska

Cinematography by
Jaroslav Kucera

Film Editing by
Miroslav Hájek

Art Direction by
Vladimír Labský

Set Decoration by
Jaroslav Chytrý
Josef Dvorák
Richard Stanek

Costume Design by
Ester Krumbachová
Bohumila Marsalková

Makeup Department
Josef Lojik	....	makeup artist
Ivana Pestuková	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Frantisek Milic	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vera Zenísková	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Ladislav Hausdorf	....	sound master

Camera and Electrical Department
Jaromír Komárek	....	still photographer

Music Department
Frantisek Belfín	....	conductor
Filmový Symfonický Orchestr	....	orchestra

Other crew
Zdenek Bláha	....	dramaturgist
Pavel Jurácek	....	production team
Jaroslav Kucera	....	production team
Václav Nývlt	....	dramaturgist

Production Companies

• Elisabeth Films
• Filmové studio Barrandov

Distributors

• Ustredni Pujcovna Filmu (1970) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Radim Films (USA) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

"Ovoce stromu rajských jíme" - Czechoslovakia (original title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Czechoslovakia | Belgium

Language:

Czech

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Elisabeth Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Golden Sixties: Vera Chytilová (#1.5)" (2009)

Even more bizarre than "Daisies"!

"The Fruit of Paradise" is a breathtaking experimental film from Vera Chytilova. Well known for her surreal feminist comedy "Daisies" (1966), Chytlova uses many of the same hallucinatory camera tricks for "The Fruit of Paradise". I used to think that the film "Begotten" was original until I saw the "Fruit of Paradise". The film's first 15 minutes is highly psychedelic as it tells the story of creation. There are layers of image on top of image with fast camera cuts. The film almost made my head spin with it's fast pace, use of color and bizarre experimental sound effects. Then it breaks out into a song about Adam & Eve, which is hauntingly catchy. Now if only I could learn Czech. Then the story of Adam and Eve goes to a modern setting. The devil is portrayed as creepy man of middle age; a persistent stalker and serial killer of women. Eva and her boyfriend go on vacation to a health spa, where they encounter temptation. The devil gets Eva to eat the forbidden fruit. Then the film becomes very comical throughout, as the Devil chases adorable Eva everywhere she goes. Very deep, surreal and philosophical, "The Fruit of Paradise" is another underrated masterpiece to Czech out! This lost classic is finally available at www.facets.org or Amazon.com if you want to save money.