A group of European settlers established a home on an uninhabited Galapagos island in 1929, expecting paradise but instead facing a nightmarish scenario. The new film Eden, starring Jude Law and Ana de Armas, dramatizes this true story, which includes deceit, manipulation, and mysterious disappearances.
Friedrich Ritter, a German doctor-philosopher, and his lover Dore Strauch arrived on the island of Floreana with ambitions to write a philosophical work that would offer a new future for humanity. However, their isolation was short-lived as they were soon joined by the Wittmer family, including Heinz and his pregnant wife Margret. The Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet also arrived, seeking to build a luxury hotel for tourists.
The Baroness’s arrival sparked tensions, with Friedrich and Dore viewing her as an invasive force. As the story unfolds, alliances are formed and broken, and the group becomes embroiled in a web of deceit and manipulation. The film Eden recreates these colourful characters and setting with great authenticity, while also exploring themes of human nature, including suspense, betrayal, and violence.
The documentary The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden provides further insight into the real-life people involved, featuring archival footage and interviews with family members and experts. However, no one knows what really happened to the people who vanished from Floreana, leaving an enduring mystery that continues to captivate audiences.
Eden is now available in the US on August 22nd, while The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden can be streamed now.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250821-the-1930s-tropical-utopia-that-became-a-living-hell