Paradise Found (2003)

A successful 19th century French stockbroker (Sutherland) leaves his profession to become an artist in Paris.

Director:

Mario Andreacchio

Writers:

Mario Andreacchio (story), John Goldsmith (screenplay),

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Nastassja Kinski, Alun Armstrong

Cast

Credited cast:
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Paul Gauguin
Nastassja Kinski	...	Mette Gauguin
Alun Armstrong	...	Camille Pissaro
Thomas Heinze	...	Schuff
Chris Haywood	...	Charles Arnaud
Nicholas Hope	...	Maurrin
Marco Andreacchio	...	Juggler
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karel Belohradský
Jana Bittnerova	...	Suzanne
Sarah Lina Brown	...	Tehura
Jan Chromec	...	Emile
Michael Corrigan
Hana Dodlova
Sam Elia
Michael Futcher

Storyline

Paris, 1880. Paul Gauguin is a successful financier. He lives in Paris with his wife Mette and their four children. But when his passion for painting becomes a mission to revolutionize art, Gauguin must unleash the savage within himself. To do so he gives up his job and comfortable lifestyle, leading his family into a downward spiral of poverty and travels to Tahiti. His voyages take him even further from his beloved family and teach him the true meaning of the word sacrifice. What price must he pay in order to pursue his dream?

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Taglines:

He sought greatness and found the soul of the world.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and nudity

Details

Country:

Australia UK France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 2003 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Meglelt éden

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Adelaide Motion Picture Company, ApolloMedia Distribution, Grosvenor Park Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kiefer Sutherland's father, Donald Sutherland, also portrayed the artist Paul Gauguin in the film Oviri.

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Connections

Version of Oviri (1986)

User Reviews

Pictures of paradise

This film, as far as I can remember, never had a commercial run here, or at least, this movie probably went to cable right after it's release in other countries. The idea of watching a biopic about Gauguin intrigued me since this painter had a turbulent career and his paintings, especially his Tahitian ones, revolutionized the art world.

As it has been pointed out by other contributors to this forum, Paul Gauguin had a difficult life. He was never clearly understood by his wife, or the general public he tried to conquer. He was a passionate man who left all the comforts in order to pursue an ambition that never gave him the happiness or economic security that others attained.

The screen play, not being linear, doesn't add much to the story. We are constantly taken back and forth, knowing little about the man. Paul Gauguin's family life was an unhappy one. His wife Mette never clearly understood him, nor stuck by him when he abandoned the brokerage house. Mette appears as a cold woman who never shared her husband's passion for the life he embarked.

Kiefer Sutherland's interpretation of the painter can go so far; he is hindered by an uninspired screen play. As far as his struggle with the local priest, who clearly wants to take the natives' culture away from them, is only a distraction. Actually, we see very little about the passion that consumed Gauguin during his time in Tahiti as he spends very little time doing what he went there for, in the first place: painting!