Analysis of Paradise Found Film - Movie Review Example

I may not know much about Gauguin’s life and therefore I may not make a self-judgment about the historical accuracy of the film. According to me, this film is a weak one that strives to be sturdy throughout, and this is quite admirable at some point. The film has a message that the audience may anxiously want to know about. However, the film hesitantly delivers this message and this is a major weakness in the film. The film skims some critical and interesting issues and fails to state them clearly. These issues are about cultural and religious tolerance and the significance of staying true to one’s dreams. The screenplay has little confidence to portray both topics in detail (Anreacchio). It fails to offer substantial weight to the philosophical musings of Gauguin on cultural and religious tolerance. When these issues finally come, they hardly allow for a strictly thoughtful impact. Several flat supporting characters required more polishing to offer more appropriate support.

However, I liked some aspects of the film that made it worth watching. I loved the way Kiefer Sutherland portrayed the character Gauguin; as strong protagonists can make a film worth watching, even the most awkward ones. The audience watches Gauguin resign from his job of stockbroking to pursue a career in art, later realizing that nothing comes easier. Therefore, he decides against going to Tahiti to be inspired; this is quite evident because of the non-linear construction of the film. Gauguin’s two stories, his past life in Paris, and his present life in Tahiti are narrated simultaneously (Anreacchio). However, my criticism of Paradise Found is not going to be in this respect because I believe it was one of the biggest merits of the screenplay. It managed to increase my curiosity and when I got to understand the structure of the film, I got more curious. More interesting was how Gauguin left his lucrative career to end up being an artist.

No one may argue with the visual aspects of the film. It is undoubtedly splendid and manages to capture the topics in depth. The film also evokes the viewer’s emotions. The ever-increasing clash between Gauguin and his wife unsatisfactorily stirs evokes emotions within, and this is a shame since it is almost treated as the central focus. However, Gauguin’s affiliation with his youngest daughter is pretty involving and offers the film some quite surprising and authentically emotional moments. While the film might not be captivating for Kiefer Sutherland’s fans that are used to watching him in fast-paced thrillers such as “24”, I appreciate that Sutherland managed to do something different. The movie is commendable for one who is awake and not sleepy because they may end up sleeping. Read More