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

The film is about a married woman whom uses her attractive best friend to manipulate and test her new husband to see if he will fall in love with her and become sexually unfaithful.

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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

David Bourne: [about his experience in Africa] Me and my father. It was when I got to know him.

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Soundtracks

Meet Me at the Ritz
Performed by Raimond Bugatti and his Platinum Lounge Syncopators

User Reviews

Superb

This film is excellent, even though there is quite a lot of nudity. The photography is absolutely stunning and mesmerising, particularly scenes in Africa and by the quayside. The acting is excellent and all in all this is a fantastic film. Not for the faint-hearted, though.

The sets for this film were devised especially and the hotel built for the purpose of the story.

The ending has been changed for the American market but hopefully will be back to the original for the British and European markets. Perhaps in 2011 this film will be released for these areas to view. It is such a shame it has taken so long to be released, having been completed in 2008.

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