Taglines: Surrender your inhibitions…
An adaptation of Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Garden of Eden, which was published posthumously in 1986 to great success. The novel remains one of the author’s most debated novels and is considered a departure from Hemingway’s usual work as it is widely accepted the novel is far more reflective of his personal life, perhaps even semi-autobiographical. The fact the book was not published until after Hemingway’s suicide has sparked debate as to whether the erotic nature of it was such that he never wished it published at all.
Set in the jazz age of the 1920s, the story follows a successful young American writer, David Bourne (Jack Huston), and his beautiful wife, Catherine (Mena Suvari), on their extended honeymoon in Europe. Catherine soon becomes restless and starts to test her husband’s devotion, pushing him to the limits of her erotic imagination and luring a sultry Italian girl Marita (Caterina Murino) into their inner circle. With the stakes continually ratcheting higher, the events that follow change their lives forever.
Hemingway’s The Garden of Eden is a film adaptation of The Garden of Eden was released in 2008 at the RomaCinemaFest and had a limited investors’ screening in the UK. Screen International dubbed the film “a boundaries-breaking erotic drama.” The film went on general release in select theaters in December 2010. The ensemble cast featured Jack Huston, Mena Suvari, Caterina Murino, Richard E. Grant, and Carmen Maura. It was directed by John Irvin. The adaptation was by James Scott Linville, former editor of The Paris Review. In March 2011, the film went on sale on iTunes and with other vendors.
About the Story
Its 1927.. .just before the first depression. American novelist David (Jack Huston) and his dazzling new wife, Catherine (Mena Suvari), decide to stay in Europe after he serves his time as an aviator in World War 1. As an heiress with more money than she knows what to do with, Catherine arranges an extended honeymoon chasing the sunset around France and Spain in their new Bugatti. Enter wine, martinis, sunbathing, and sex. A lot of sex. In fact, more than David feels comfortable with, especially when Catherine gets a drastic, boyish haircut and requests that he play the role of the girl in the bedroom… and she the boy.
In the midst of all the drinking, sunbathing, and increasingly awkward foreplay, David’s publisher writes to him, asking for another novel. Catherine isn’t fond of her man filling his time with activities that don’t involve her, so he agrees to base the novel on their own love story.
Things get complicated when the couple settles in a beachfront house just outside of Cannes, where David plans on writing while Catherine shops til she drops. Growing bored, she brings home a surprise for her husband…a seductive Italian girl named Marita (Catherina Murino) for a little ménage et trios. It isn’t long, however, before jealous emotions flare.
Ernest Hemingway’s novel Garden of Eden was published posthumously, and scholars don’t even know how Hemingway wanted parts of the story told…or even if he wanted it told at all, as it was reportedly semi autobiographic. He struggled for more than a decade writing it.
As adaptation from the novel, Garden of Eden will shock those not familiar with the author’s more erotic work. The film’s depiction of sex and motifs about the reverse of gender roles are shocking and disquieting, yet the themes are interesting and relevant. We can relate to the characters; as David’s comfort levels are pushed by Catherine’s peculiar behavior, so are those of the audience.
The film’s story is a little light at times and the direction a bit slack. This is especially true when it begins a subplot through flashbacks about David’s father elephant hunting in Africa. While the subplot does contain important exposition necessary to the central story, the way in which it is portrayed is far too distracting and takes too long to get its point across.
That doesn’t take too much away from the film, though, because the three lead actors sizzle…certainly in an erotic sense, but even more so in their chemistry. Mena Suvari is known for roles that range from uber sexy to uber quirky. In Garden of Eden, she gets to play both, a sexually adventurous and increasingly unstable vixen. Jack Houston is a strong counterpart as her husband, drawing a vivid emotional web of obsession, frustration, and devastation. Their performances are passionate and tortured, and keep the audience consistently on edge.
Ironically, the film’s time period and involvement of Hemingway may scare young audiences away, even though at its core Garden of Eden is a sexy psychological thriller much better suited for a younger crowd than the literature buffs who may be drawn to it.
Not too young of a crowd, though. I can only imagine an American literature class taking a field trip to see the film…and the expression on the teacher’s face when Catherine erotically sticks her finger in a part of David’s body where the sun doesn’t shine.
Continue Reading and View the Theatrical Trailer
Hemingway’s The Garden of Eden (2010)
Directed by: John Irvin
Starring: Jack Huston, Mena Suvari, Richard E. Grant, Caterina Murino, Carmen Maura, Matthew Modine, Richard E. Grant, Mathias Koie Levi Palsvig, Álvaro Roig, María Miguel, Isabella Orlowska
Screenplay by: James Scott Linville
Production Design by: Tim Hutchinson
Cinematography by: Ashley Rowe
Film Editing by: Jeremy Gibbs
Costume Design by: Alexandra Byrne
Set Decoration by: Bárbara Pérez-Solero
Art Direction by: Jonathan McKinstry
Music by: Roger Julià
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity and some language.
Distributed by: Roadside Attractions
Release Date: December 10, 2010