Ron Howard directs Eden (2025), a historical drama that places a group of outsiders on a remote Galapagos island during World War I and then follows how their supposedly utopian experiment spirals into a clash of power, desire, and survival. The film assembles an ensemble cast that includes Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas, Daniel Brühl, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace, Jonathan Tittel and others, with Olga-style tensions and sharp social maneuvering at its core.
The story unfolds as three disparate groups seek refuge on Floreana Island after fleeing civilization for different reasons. Dr. Friedrich Ritter, played by Jude Law, arrives with a manifesto for a new, supposedly humane order that emphasizes vegetarianism and personal growth, while his wife Dora Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) pursues the exile hoping to give him the time to cure her multiple sclerosis. Their experiment is challenged from the start by the Wittmer family—Heinz Wittmer and his pregnant wife Margaret (Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney)—who seek a simpler life and a chance to cultivate their own garden away from war’s reach.
Into this fragile balance steps a glamorous baroness (Ana de Armas), accompanied by a pair of young companions, who arrives with a taste for luxury, control, and a plan to turn the island into a retreat for the rich. Her presence disrupts the fragile social experiment and ignites a power struggle as each party discovers what they are willing to sacrifice—and what they’re capable of taking from others—to ensure their vision of freedom endures.
Eden attempts to straddle a psychological thriller and a social-fantasy history piece, but critics have noted a clunky blend of tonal lines. The baroness’s scenes tilt toward campy excess, which can feel at odds with the more austere character studies elsewhere in the film. Still, the movie’s longer runtime, clocking in at roughly two hours, allows the separate factions room to breathe and reveals the evolving dynamics as the island’s micro-society destabilizes. The endgame hints at the ambiguity of the historical record, alluding to multiple perspectives on the same events and inviting viewers to decide where the truth lies.
If you’re drawn to ambitious ensemble drama with high-profile performances, Eden offers a provocative look at isolation, power, and human nature under pressure. The film benefits from strong acting across the board and a historically rich setting, even as its tonal shifts may challenge audiences seeking a single, uniform mood throughout.
Summary: Eden reimagines a famous historical moment as a tense, character-driven study of control and collaboration under siege. It’s anchored by a star-powered cast and lush period detail, but its uneven tonal balance may divide viewers. The film ultimately leans into the mystery of truth in history, encouraging discussion about how divergent accounts shape our understanding of the past.
Additional notes: The premise invites discussions about how true events are interpreted for the screen, the ethics of social experimentation in extreme settings, and the allure—and danger—of utopian projects. The performances, production design, and setting provide plenty of value for fans of historical dramas and ensembles, while the ending’s nod to multiple viewpoints offers a thoughtful prompt for post-film conversations. If you’re hoping for a hopeful takeaway, the movie’s focus on resilience and ingenuity in the face of conflict provides a reminder of the complexity of human motives even when survival seems straightforward.