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:

Jack Huston, Mena Suvari, Caterina Murino

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mena Suvari	...	Catherine Hill Bourne
Jack Huston	...	David Bourne
Caterina Murino	...	Marita
Carmen Maura	...	Madame Aurol
Richard E. Grant	...	Col. Philip Boyle
Matthew Modine	...	David's Father
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:

lesbian kiss | based on novel | bisexual woman | female full rear nudity | female cuckold | 

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Taglines:

Surrender your inhibitions...

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Irvin along with the three leads, appeared in an episode of "Film '72" on the 19th of February 2008.

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Goofs

The fish David "catches" is clearly made of rubber. The fish has an adipose fin which only salmon and catfish have. This fake fish does not look like a salmon at all with the spiky dorsal fin and the snapper head.

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Quotes

Catherine Bourne: We don't have to live life like normal people. We can do what we want.
David Bourne: And what kind of life is that?

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Soundtracks

Ain't We Got Fun
Music by Richard A. Whiting (uncredited) and lyrics by Ray Egan (uncredited) and Gus Kahn (uncredited)
Performed by Raimond Bugatti and his Platinum Lounge Syncopators

User Reviews

The best of the best

Great movie based on a great book - brilliant photography and wonderful costumes by the same person who won an Oscar for her costumes in Elizabeth 1, Alexander Byrne, and the editing is second to none from one of the best editors in the business.

The best of the best with a few minor flaws.

Mena Suvari is superb and Jack Huston as her on screen husband is fitting in the part. John Huston's direction is flawless.

Is is just a pity that the film has not come to Europe yet and had a wider audience. The film should be viewed on the BIG screen as this is the only way to do justice to a Hemingway film.

The film went on limited release in the USA on 10th December 2010 to critical acclaim.

What more can be said?

Details

Country:

UK Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2011 (Chile)

Also Known As:

Hemingway's Garden of Eden

Filming Locations:

Novelda, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,404, 12 December 2010

Gross USA:

$22,083

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,083

Company Credits

Production Co:

Devonshire Productions, Berwick Street Productions, Freeform Spain

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min (DVD) 111 min (original cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1