Meeting the suegros is always an uncomfortable experience, but things can get especially tense when it turns out your new girlfriend is the niece of Pablo Escobar. Loosely based on true events, the upcoming Paradise Lost is one of a smattering of Escobar-related content coming soon to a screen near you, including an upcoming Netflix series directed by Brazilian hotshot Jose Padilha (Tropa de Élite).
Nevertheless, Paradise Lost is the only contribution that can claim to feature badass Boricua Benicio del Toro as the megalomaniacal cocaine kingpin.
While details are still scarce, it seems Paradise Lost follows the exploits of an American surfer-dude who falls in love with the wrong girl while visiting his brother down in Colombia. Played by Josh Hutcherson (Peeta from The Hunger Games), the short trailer suggests a downward spiral of fear and paranoia in which Del Toro’s Escobar looks ever more menacing and bearded – but then again, it’s only thirty seconds.
A French production helmed by first-time Italian director Andrea di Stefano, Paradise Lost is set to be released in Europe this fall, with no set date for a US premiere. Whether this will be another generic cocaine-thriller shot against tropical mountains, or a more nuanced portrait of a man and his culture is yet to be seen. In any event, let’s hope it’s not just another movie about another Colombian narco.