Paradise

Kojo (Daniel Atsu Hukporti) is a young man living in a deprived part of Accra who makes a living fishing with his father. Thousands of miles away in Canada, Tony (Joey Boivin Desmeules) is a skater boy living with his mother (Evelyne de la Chenelière). Their lives couldn’t be any more different, but they collide in an unexpected way when an American captain jumps from a burning cargo ship. Director Jérémy Comte unravels this parallel narrative to sensational effect in Paradise, his feature directorial debut, as he explores both what separates and unites these men.

Comte has crafted a visually spectacular feature. From the vibrant colours that punctuate Accra’s bustling streets and the muted tones of quiet suburban Canada to the dreamlike way he depicts Kojo’s encounter with the burning ship, the filmmaker and cinematographer Olivier Gossot immerses viewers within each character’s world to great impact. Fire is also used as a recurring motif during some of this film’s most creative and experimental moments, further adding to the atmosphere while hinting at danger to come.

Told in three chapters, the script is deliberate in its pacing. Story beats are carefully and gradually unveiled with subtle misdirection until the shocking truth is revealed. From this point, the tempo quickens as Kojo and Tony’s tale shifts into a taut thriller that culminates in an intense climax. Driving everything forward is the collection of flawless turns from the central cast, all of whom eloquently capture the humanity of their character’s situations.

As wonderfully as Comte combines the protagonists’ journeys, both halves of this film feel incomplete. For instance, a rivalry between Kojo and a lifelong friend never quite goes anywhere, while frustrations about the identity of Tony’s father remain unresolved when the credits roll. Although these plot points add compelling texture to their individual plights, a runtime closer to two hours could have given these threads the time they needed to be explored in greater depth.

While Comte’s feature debut could have benefited from an additional half an hour to better develop some of its narrative, Paradise nevertheless stands out as a dazzling and surprising tale of two strangers whose lives are brought together by fate. With plot twists that audiences won’t see coming and phenomenal performances from Hukporti, Desmeules and Chenelière powering the emotional core, Comte has cemented himself as a filmmaker to look out for.