The Garden of Eden (2008)

A young American writer completes his service in WWI and travels across Europe with his wife and her attractive Italian girlfriend. Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway.

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

James Scott Linville (screenplay), Ernest Hemingway (novel)

Stars:

Mena Suvari, Jack Huston, Caterina Murino

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mena Suvari	...	Catherine Hill Bourne
Jack Huston	...	David Bourne
Caterina Murino	...	Marita
Carmen Maura	...	Madame Aurol
Matthew Modine	...	David's Father
Richard E. Grant	...	Col. Philip Boyle
Mathias Koie Levi Palsvig	...	Young David (as Mathias Palsvig)
Héctor Tomás	...	Patrice (as Hector Tomas)
Dritan Biba	...	Waiter
Luis Callejo	...	Monsieur Jean
Álvaro Roig	...	Vladimir (as Alvaro Roig)
Yaël Belicha	...	Girl Onlooker (as Yael Belicha)
María Miguel	...	Nina (as Maria Miguel)
Igacio Gijon Solis	...	Ritz Waiter
Enrique Zaldua	...	Waiter #2 (as Enrique Zoldua)

Storyline

Set in the jazz age years, prior to the depression, the story follows a successful young American writer, David Bourne, and his beautiful new wife, Catherine, on their extended honeymoon in Europe. Catherine soon becomes restless and starts to tests her husband's devotion, pushing him to the limits of her imagination. Already unsure of the games his wife is playing, David is both uncomfortable and curious when she brings a sultry Italian girl, Marita, to spice things up. As the erotic game reaches new levels, the events that follow will change their lives forever.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | novelist | lesbian kiss | bisexual | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

Surrender your inhibitions...

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and some language

Details

Country:

UK Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2011 (Chile)

Also Known As:

Hemingway's Garden of Eden

Filming Locations:

Alcoy, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$12,404 (USA) (10 December 2010)

Gross:

$22,083 (USA) (24 December 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Devonshire Productions, Berwick Street Productions, Freeform Spain

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min 97 min (DVD) 111 min (original cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the fiftieth adaptation of an Ernest Hemmingway story.

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Quotes

Catherine Bourne: And I brought you a dark girl for a present.
David Bourne: And I like my present very much.
Marita: [Smiles] Do you really?

User Reviews

Could have been brilliant.

I'm a huge Ernest Hemingway fan and The Garden of Eden is by far my favorite novel. I must have read it a dozen times. I was reluctant to even watch the film - knowing that it could never live up to the book.

Well, I did anyway.

The photography is great. I lived in the south of France for seven years and I've always been in love with the region. But, it appears that most of the filming was done in Spain.

The direction and acting are brilliant. However, this has to be one of the worst screenplay adaptations of a novel ever. Much of the very "real to life" dialogue is totally absent from the film. The true motivations of the characters (and their respective dilemmas) are underdeveloped.

Oh well... Read the book.