Eden

Ron Howard’s new film “Eden” is a true story about disenchanted Europeans, who, in the 1930s, escaped from their society and decamped on a lonely rock in the Galapagos, only to see their handmade utopia devolve into petty power struggles and murder. It’s also lurid proof that Charles Darwin missed out on the truly juicy survival-of-the-fittest action by about a hundred years.

This is certainly unusual material for a mainstream stalwart like Howard, who knows his way around heroic problem-solving narratives (“Apollo 13,” the Thai cave rescue movie “Thirteen Lives”). But in screenwriter Noah Pink’s melodramatic imagining of incidents both well-documented and mysterious, one can see this Hollywood veteran on a mission to loosen the shackles of his reputation and have some nasty, brutish fun. To wit: A perma-sneering Jude Law greets intruders naked; a wild-eyed Ana de Armas insults and tries to seduce everyone; Vanessa Kirby lets foreplay include the pulling of her diseased tooth; Sydney Sweeney gives birth alone while growling at a pack of wild dogs.

The result may not be terribly illuminating about the (sub)human condition, despite the shout-outs to Nietzsche and Schopenhauer. “Eden” is probably closer to an expensive reality show about mismatched survivalists. But as August fare goes, it’s a sticky, sweaty hoot, well cast and paced like a disreputable beach read, even if you might sporadically wish Werner Herzog had gotten first crack at this material. (It was also covered in a 2013 documentary.)

The first transplants to the uninhabited island of Floreana were German botanist Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Law) and his devoted, ailing partner, Dore (Kirby). Scolds who glorified suffering against the world’s wrong turns, the pair sought a radical reboot of society in rugged isolation, save the inconvenient fact that Ritter’s grandstanding philosophical missives back home were published in newspapers, turning them into eccentric folk heroes. Soon, their precious suffering took the form of new neighbors: idealistic war veteran Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl) and his wide-eyed young wife Margret (Sweeney), who are looking for a new, self-sufficient way of life for their budding family.

It’s difficult to imagine a worse addition to this oil-and-water mix of high-minded nonconformist cranks and hard-toiling middle-class settlers than a capitalist sybarite. Enter the grandiose Baroness Eloise (De Armas), carried like Cleopatra onto the beach by her male lovers (Toby Wallace and Felix Klammerer), and ready to claim Floreana as the future site of an exclusive luxury resort called Hacienda Paradiso. Her first order of business, however, is pitting the scowling Ritter and bland, industrious Wittmers, who had managed a bearable distance so far, against each other.

The island, given an appropriately sickly, uninviting sheen by cinematographer Mathias Herndl, clearly wasn’t big enough for all of these new-world experimenters. But the movie’s two hours offer plenty of room for their portrayers. Howard’s generosity with his actors keeps this ensemble a charged group of clashing molecules. You wouldn’t mistake anybody’s turn for a full-throated or, conversely, subtle characterization — there’s a messiness to the cutting that prioritizes motion over stillness — but the broad strokes of personality are fun.

At its most raw (or is it overcooked?), when de Armas’ loaded-gun vibe veers toward camp or Law peacocks his pomposity with a hint of desperation, the situation may remind you of some insane pre-Code potboiler like 1932 “The Most Dangerous Game,” when a tale of people at their worst seemed all the more fascinating for unfurling in an exotic locale. Just because this corrupting pity party doesn’t crescendo so much as peter out isn’t any more of a reason to dismiss “Eden.” A little time spent with the farcical maneuverings of isolated megalomaniacs means you can skip reading the news that day.

Emmerdale star Eden is up for two awards at the British Soap Awards this month for her portrayal of domestic abuse victim Belle Dingle, while the hard-hitting storyline is also up for a prize

She’s been a staple in the Dales since the late 1990’s but now, Belle Dingle is set to leave the nest in upcoming scenes.

After a dramatic year at the heart of Emmerdale’s domestic abuse storyline, actress Eden Taylor-Draper is bound to become the belle of the British Soap Awards.

The actress, who will celebrate 20 years of playing Belle Dingle this autumn, is nominated for Best Dramatic Performance and Best Leading Performer while the plot is up for Best Storyline.

On top of that her soap family, the Dingles, are nominated in the Best Family category and Emmerdale is facing off against Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and EastEnders for Best Soap.

“I’m thrilled,” grins Eden, 27. “It’s a little bit scary but it’s been amazing. It’s so hard to put into words, but it’s been the most challenging and exciting year I’ve ever had at Emmerdale.”

The soap announced plans for a domestic abuse storyline centered around Belle Dingle and Tom King back in 2023, and the twisting, slowburn scenario has kept fans hooked.

With fight scenes, confessional scenes, unique perspectives and even alternative outcomes being filmed, the work has been challenging and fulfilling in equal measures for Eden.

“The episode with Belle’s imagination of the different outcomes was challenging because it was like playing many storylines at once and there were some very intense, violent scenes, which were intense to play,” says Eden. “It was a challenge but I also loved it and it’s one of my favourite episodes I’ve ever done.”

The hard-hitting scenes saw Belle bravely confide in her cousin Charity Dingle, played by Emma Atkins, who has been a rock during filming for Eden, alongside James Chase who starred as Belle’s evil but believable abuser Tom King. “Emma’s one of my best friends,” says Eden. “It was just so special that we got to have that moment together.”

During the character’s many years on the soap, Belle has faced serious mental health battles with both schizophrenia and psychosis, she was jailed as a teenager for the manslaughter of her best friend Gemma Andrews (Tendai Rinomhota) and she has been kidnapped by her serial killer boyfriend Lachlan White, played by Tom Atkinson.

Despite being trusted with some of Emmerdale’s biggest plot points, Eden reveals she has never had any formal acting training. “No, I’ve never done anything.

I’ve just been at Emmerdale and that’s been it since the beginning,” says Eden. “One of the things about growing up on the show is that everyone that I work with has been a part of who I am today in both how I act and how I am as a person.”

Growing up on set meant Eden felt like she had four parents – her real mum and dad and also Jane Cox, who played her soap mum Lisa Dingle and the late actor Steve Halliwell, who played her dad Zak Dingle. She also cites Charity actress Emma and Cain Dingle actor Jeff Hordley as acting influences.

“I have so much credit to give to Jane and Steve who played Belle’s mum and dad because they were just brilliant and helped me in that environment,” says Eden.

“I’m surrounded by such talented people and it’s such an honour to be able to work with them. I’m always trying to learn, I’m always trying to better myself and be, you know, very natural and also be so in it.

The people around me help because everyone is so dedicated and so good at their craft. It definitely helps learning on the job from such a young age and getting to work with these people daily. It inspires you to keep pushing and keep growing every day.”

The domestic abuse storyline might be over now that Tom is serving three years behind bars, but the reaction from fans will never leave Eden.

“I’d never experienced anything like it with people reaching out and feeling they can share their stories,” says Eden. “The amount of messages I’ve had off people who have followed the story and said, ‘Watching this unfold, I’ve got myself out of that situation,’ or, ‘I’ve spoken to the police,’ or, ‘I’m now in a women’s refuge.’

It just blows my mind. That is the power of soap. To even help one person, it would be incredible, so the fact that multiple people have said we’ve helped them… I couldn’t ask for more.”

In real life, Eden has a very supportive boyfriend in Ed Lewis, her high-school sweetheart. Ed will be accompanying her to the British Soap Awards and regularly helps her learn her lines.

“He is great,” says Eden. “We were friends before we got together so he’s always known what I’ve done and he’s amazing. He’ll stay up with me, running lines, until God knows what hour. He’s very supportive.”

With so many nominations, Eden is sure to get a lot of screen time when the British Soap Awards is broadcast on ITV1 on Thursday 5 June. Naturally, Eden is looking forward to casting off Belle’s practical padded jackets and jeans for a glamorous ball gown.

“On a night out my favourite bit sometimes is just doing my hair and make-up and listening to music,” says Eden. “I do enjoy that bit. I’m not sorted, I don’t have a dress. It’s all going to be very last-minute, but it will be nice to get dressed up.”

Many Emmerdale faces are up for awards including Eden’s co-star Beth Cordingly who is also nominated in the Best Leading Performer category for her role as Ruby Fox-Milligan alongside EastEnders legends Lacey Turner and Kellie Bright.

No matter who takes the coveted gongs home, Eden knows she and Beth will paint the town red. “I feel like whenever I’ve been at awards with Beth, she is up for a good time!” laughs Eden.

“There’s a good gang of us and I think everyone’s in high spirits. I think that will just be a lovely party… Hopefully I won’t be hungover, but I would love maybe a little dance.”

When she’s not working on a big storyline, Eden loves to travel with Ed. Later this year they’re going to Bali in Indonesia for the first time and they dream of travelling to Japan one day.

“I do love travelling,” says Eden. “I love a little break, I love a big break and I’ve got family in Australia so that’s really cool to get to go to the other side of the world and see them.

Last year I didn’t really travel that much because I was so busy, so this year I’m trying to cram as much travelling in as possible. Japan is on our bucket list and we’re actually heading to Bali at the end of the year and that’s my first time going there, so that should be really nice.”

However, home is where the heart is and having grown up on Emmerdale Belle never wants to leave. “I love it,” she says. “I’m so happy. I guess it’s not fully up to me, it’s up to the producers, but I am very happy there and I’d love to stay around.”

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