Is Paradise Lost Based on a True Story? A Definitive Guide
No, the 2014 romantic drama film Paradise Lost is not based on a true story. While loosely drawing inspiration from some real-life figures like Pablo Escobar, the core narrative centered on a Canadian surfer who falls for Escobar‘s niece is entirely fictional.
As a fellow gamer and avid media consumer, I set out to uncover the true origins of Paradise Lost. In this detailed guide, I‘ll analyze the movie‘s connections to actual events, examine what‘s real versus invented, and explore thought-provoking parallels to Milton‘s 17th century epic poem of the same name.
Let‘s delve deeper into the facts behind this tragically romantic crime drama!
Paradise Lost – The Epic Poem Foundation
Paradise Lost is first and foremost an acclaimed epic poem written by English poet John Milton and first published in 1667. Many scholars consider it to be Milton‘s magnum opus.
The epic poem chronicles the biblical Genesis story of the fall of man and original sin. Specifically, it covers Satan‘s rebellion and ultimate expulsion from heaven, the temptation of Adam and Eve and their descent from the Garden of Eden.
Here‘s a brief synopsis of key events in Milton‘s 10,000+ line poem:
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| Satan Rebels | Satan and his followers rise up against God, inciting a brutal civil war in Heaven |
| Expulsion from Heaven | After a fierce 3 day battle, Satan and his army lose and are banished from Heaven, plunging into Hell |
| The Garden of Eden | God later creates Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden as a paradise on Earth |
| Enter Satan | Satan, seeking revenge, makes his way into the Garden disguised as a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve |
| Original Sin | Satan successfully tempts Eve then Adam to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, introducing sin and death into the world |
This epic tale of pride, ambition, and humanity‘s fall from grace served as inspiration for the 2014 movie bearing the same name. But as we‘ll explore next, the film‘s story itself is completely fictional.
Paradise Lost – The Movie‘s Fictional Story
The 2014 movie Paradise Lost has no direct relation to actual events or figures beyond drawing loose inspiration from some real-life elements. The romantic crime drama was written as an original screenplay centered around fictional protagonists.
As the movie opens, we‘re introduced to Nick Brady (played by Josh Hutcherson), a young Canadian expatriate who moves to Colombia alongside his brother to open a surf resort.
"Ambitious dreamer Nick Brady arrives in paradisiacal Colombia with his radical surfer brother and falls madly in love with Maria, a beautiful but endangered local woman. However, their budding romance brings them into conflict with Maria‘s unscrupulous drug kingpin boyfriend, and Nick finds his dreams devolving into chaos in a dangerous land." – Synopsis per IMDb
The fictional Nick serves as our point-of-view character for most of the movie. Through his eyes, we witness the unfolding drama and romance with Maria – the niece of infamous Colombian cocaine tycoon, the late Pablo Escobar.
While Pablo and other peripheral characters like his henchman Popeye are based on real figures from history, Paradise Lost‘s protagonists and their love story spring out of the writer‘s imagination.
In the actual events, there exists no evidence of a Canadian surfer who became caught up with Escobar‘s family in this fashion. So in summary – fictional main characters + fictional romance storyline + some real-life inspiration = the movie Paradise Lost.
Now that we‘ve separated fact from fiction, let‘s analyze Pablo Escobar‘s biopic-esque portrayal versus his true historical acts.
Pablo Escobar – The Real Drug Lord vs Movie Depiction
Even viewers unfamiliar with Colombia‘s history have likely heard tales of the infamous crimes of Pablo Escobar. At his peak in 1989, Escobar appeared on Forbes‘ first World‘s Billionaires list, having amassed an estimated personal net worth of $30 billion as head of the Medellín drug cartel.
That‘s right – this real-life Spanish scarcrow achieved a peak wealth exceeding $30 billion through ruthlessly organizing a monopoly over Colombia‘s cocaine trade and trafficking billions in drugs each year to eager consumers in America and Europe.
To leverage his power, Escobar pioneered modern narco-terrorism – using bribery, kidnapping and assassinations to influence Colombian politics…and ruthlessly killing over 4,000 civilians, cops, judges and politicians that stood in his way.
"Escobar‘s criminal empire held a nation hostage…and his savage war against the Colombian government left thousands dead." – Biography Channel
In Paradise Lost, we get a tamer fictionalized take on Escobar‘s character designed to serve the movie‘s central romance. While acknowledging Pablo‘s status as a murderous crime boss, the film places more emphasis on his family loyalty and affable charm.
| Pablo Escobar | Paradise Lost Portrayal | |
|---|---|---|
| 55555555555Colombia‘s most notorious drug kingpin | $30 billion peak net worth | Criminal mastermind behind the Medellín cartel |
| Benicio Del Toro‘s fictionalized take | More focus on manipulative charm, family loyalty and wealth | |
| Singlehandedly introduced large-scale cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism tactics | Killed 10‘s of judges, presidential candidates and over 4,000 total | Shown threatening/bribing but revels get less screen time |
| Ultimately killed in bloody siege after 15 month manhunt | After wars with Colombia‘s government | Ultimate fate left undisclosed |
Rather than faithfully depicting Escobar‘s full larger-than-life infamy, Paradise Lost opts to portray a more subdued, affable gangster – one whose allure and sway over family members fuels the movie‘s forbidden romance premise.
While not excusing his crimes, the fictional adaptation puts sensationalism aside to emphasize universal human qualities – how even violent gangsters can show loyalty and warmth to kin and express jealousy when romantic affection strays.
This softened dynamic supports the movie‘s central tension – Nick Brady wrestling over fleeing this paradise now entrapping him amid Pablo‘s looming menace even as he yearns to stay by his lover Maria‘s side.
Forbidden Love Amidst Criminal Empire – Paradise Lost‘s Fictional Core
Paradise Lost‘s appeal lies in its Shakespearean mashup of timeless elements – a forbidden love story embroiled in the peril surrounding a notorious crime family‘s empire.
Nick Brady makes for an engaging POV protagonist – a humble Canadian surfer simply seeking an idyllic life…who fatefully falls for the niece of one of history‘s most ambitious drug kingpins.
This ingeniously simple premise allows the movie to explore complex themes about morality, human nature and the corrupting influence of power – set against a visually stunning Latin American backdrop invoking ideas of corrupted paradises.
The movie‘s title itself has biblical implications, likely inspired by John Milton‘s religious epic about the fall of man from Edenic realms.
In Paradise Lost‘s contemporary reimagining, Nick Brady is a modern-day Adam. His ambition lands him in a paradisiacal Colombian haven – soon lost amid Pablo Escobar‘s narco-fueled mayhem, like Milton‘s fallen angels spreading corruption on Earth.
Nick must choose between virtue and vice, disentangling himself from the Escobars‘ intoxicating lifestyle to reclaim his pure ideals and protect his lover Maria in the process.
This poignant dilemma, set against real historical drama, makes for a thrilling (albeit tragic) viewing experience that has resonated with global audiences.
While real figures like Pablo Escobar and his treacherous hitman Popeye offer fascinating star power, Paradise Lost derives its intrigue from the invented love story centered on fictional protagonists.
Memorable Fictional Characters + Figures of History
Beyond Pablo himself as Paradise Lost‘s deliciously villainous anchor, several other characters leave memorable impressions that resonated after I first viewed this film back in 2015.
Let‘s analyze a few key players central to the forbidden love premise:
Nick Brady – Surfer Seeking Paradise
Youthful, humble Josh Hutcherson brings likeable ardency to the lead role of Nick – a young Canadian seeking paradise in Colombia‘s jungles through his quixotic surf dream bonding him to his radical brother.
Fatefully falling for Pablo‘s beloved niece Maria while teaching her surfing sets tragedy in motion. But we admire Nick‘s courage as he follows his conscience – struggling to extricate his now-pregnant love from her uncle‘s grasp.
Maria Escobar – Torn by Family Ties
Alluring, principled newcomer Claudia Traisac imbues Pablo‘s niece Maria with compassion. Despite her savage uncle and privileged upbringing, she volunteers teaching less-fortunate children, with ambition to become a dentist.
Her chance encounter with Nick awakens true love, forcing her into an impossible dilemma between staying loyal to her uncle/family by leaving her soulmate or finding the courage to leave her criminal ties behind and start anew.
Pablo Escobar – Charming Monster
In a role he was seemingly born to inhabit, Benicio Del Toro mesmerizes in humanizing one of Colombia‘s most notorious figures. His Pablo exudes manipulative charm and paternal warmth to kin – enhanced by a small physical stature belying an iron will steering a sprawling drug empire.
Rather than a one-note villain, we see a cunning family patron – whose affable possessiveness over Maria provides the central tension against her lover Nick‘s efforts to save her.
While Paradise Lost embellishes historical details, these richly-portrayed fictional characters interacting with figures of legend like Pablo Escobar make this forbidden love premise an exotic, intoxicating viewing experience I‘d recommend to fellow cinephiles.
Closing Thoughts – A Fictionalized Hybrid of Vice & Virtue
In closing, Paradise Lost stands as a fictionalized crime-drama depicting some real historical figures but ultimately traces the travails of invented protagonist ensnared by the seductive corruption of Pablo Escobar‘s empire.
It weaves biblically-inspired themes about virtue, human nature and the loss of paradise amid rising vice and ambition. This timeless premise, set against the visually stunning and perilous backdrop of 1990‘s Colombia, makes for a memorable star-crossed love story.
While not a biographical retelling, Paradise Lost succeeds by blending legendary figures of vice like Pablo Escobar and Popeye together with fictional leads meant to humanize viewers within this world of paradoxical beauty and darkness.
So in definitive summary regarding the guiding question:
"Is Paradise Lost based on a true story?"
No. While drawing bits of inspiration from Colombian history, Paradise Lost‘s core premise about star-crossed Canadian lovers remains an ambitious wholly fictional crime-drama cautioning that the cost of vice is losing paradise itself.
