EDEN

France, 2014, or 131 minutes, Colour.
Felix de Givry, Pauline Etienne, Vincent Magaigne, Hugo Conzelman, Zita Hanrot, Roman Kolinka, Vincent Lacoste, Greta Gerwig, Brady Corbett.
Directed by Mia Hansen- Love.

Eden is a semi-autobiographical film by celebrated French director, Mia Hansen- Love whose films included The Father of My Children, Goodbye, First Love, L’ Avenir. The screenplay was co-written with her brother, Sven Hansen- Love, on the the central character, Paul, is modelled – and his love of music, his work as a DJ, his physical and moral collapse with drugs, his commitment to the world of music, his recovery.

The film traces the French music world, rock, punk, garage, from the 1990s to the 2010s. It is principally a film for those interested in this music world and its extension to New York City at the end of the 1990s. There is quite a range of music played, a range of bands and individual musicians.

The film shows enthusiasm, but also shows a downward spiral, disappointments, relationships and breaking relationships, the world of drugs, the suicides.

While the film has a strong French cast, the American connections are reinforced by the presence of Greta Gerwig and Brady Corbett.

For those who admire this music scene and the director, but friends of the director might find the detailed focus on this music world somewhat alien at times.

1. The contemporary music in France from the 1990s to 2010? The trends? The different styles of music? Performance, DJs, composers, bands and instruments, venues for playing? France, Paris, New York?

2. The director, films? The memories of her childhood? Collaborating in writing the screenplay with her brother as the model for the character, Paul?

3. The range of songs played throughout the film?

4. France in the 1990s, young adults, work, music, bands and nightclubs, drink and the prevalence of drugs? The effect at the time?

5. Paul, based on the director’s brother, his home, with his mother (and asking for money later, acknowledging his addiction, his mother’s response)? His work, writing? His interest in music? His work as a DJ, skills, the music, enjoyment, the musicians? His collaboration with his friends? The collaboration with Stan and the formation of Cheers? His collaboration with Guy- Man, Thomas? The progress throughout the 1990s? His relationship with Louise? The relationship and momentum, breaking up, the return to New York? Later meeting her, the meeting with Larry, the story of her abortion?

6. Invitation to go to New York, the invitation to Cyril, his staying in France, concentrating on his comic and design? The shock of his suicide?

7. The impact on Paul, his return to France, collapse, with his mother? The meeting with the young girl, the comments about the music she listened to? His being part of the past? His new job, salesmen? The night courses?

8. The range of people in the music industries? France and the US? Fashions, tastes, “garage” music, punk, and its varieties?

9. Paul, his character – and his being saved in real life, the director’s brother and his music, collaboration with the sister of the screenplay, able to take stock of his life?