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War drama

Paradise (2017): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Paradise (2017) movie poster

Paradise is a 2017 war drama directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, starring Yuliya Vysotskaya as Olga, Philippe Duquesne and Christian Clauss. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes and earned $945,991 worldwide on a $4.6 million budget. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$946K
Echo Score
70
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Paradise (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 10m (130 min)
Genres
Drama , War
Original language
German
Budget
$4.6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Paradise About?

The premise of Paradise without spoilers.

During World War II, the lives of three individuals become unexpectedly linked. Olga, a Russian aristocrat now fighting with the French Resistance, crosses paths with Jules, a man wrestling with his choices as a collaborator, and Helmut, a young and idealistic SS officer. Through flashbacks, the film explores their complex backgrounds and how their paths intertwined, revealing the difficult choices they face amidst love, loyalty, and the brutality of war.

Paradise Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • one word title
  • year 1942
  • prison
  • interrogation
  • russian
  • aristocrat
  • collaboration
  • collaboration with nazis
  • nazi collaborator
  • cigarette smoking
  • nazi regime
  • nazi
+38 more
  • ss
  • vomiting
  • reference to adolf hitler
  • ring
  • kicking someone
  • death
  • dog
  • photograph
  • 1940s
  • nazi occupied france
  • occupied france
  • ss officer
  • french collaborator
  • collaborator
  • assassination
  • russian aristocrat
  • prisoner
  • countess
  • russian emigrant
  • nobleman
  • noblewoman
  • beating
  • 1930s
  • german aristocrat
  • female prisoner
  • gas chamber
  • self sacrifice
  • german officer
  • shot to death
  • world war two
  • resistance
  • monologue
  • concentration camp
  • french riviera
  • repression
  • love triangle
  • holocaust
  • emigration
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Cast & crew

Paradise Cast & Characters

Yuliya Vysotskaya leads the cast as Olga, with Philippe Duquesne as Jules and Christian Clauss as Helmut. Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Paradise

· 7 more
From the director

More from Andrei Konchalovsky

More films directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, best-rated first: Sin, Dear Comrades!, Runaway Train and Tango & Cash.

Full filmography
Ratings

Paradise Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Paradise 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (45).

70 /100

Paradise Echo Score Breakdown

Paradise delivers a visually compelling yet narratively uneven Holocaust drama that balances atmospheric intensity with thematic ambition. Critics commonly highlight the film’s evocative imagery and confident direction, even as they note lapses in plot focus and tonal consistency. The use of documentary-style testimonies adds originality but also contributes to structural fragmentation. Overall, while the film’s craftsmanship elevates its emotional potency, its disjointed storytelling tempers the impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels through meticulous visual composition and dynamic shot selection. Critics highlight the striking cinematography and fluid camera movements that underscore the narrative’s emotional weight. The direction maintains a cohesive aesthetic, balancing stark realism with lyrical tableaux. Overall, the film’s visual artistry emerges as its most consistent strength.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When it comes to character and emotion, the performances are frequently praised for their intensity and authenticity. Observers note moments of raw emotional resonance, especially in scenes combining intimate dialogue with expressive acting choices. However, some of the character arcs feel underdeveloped within the broader narrative framework. Consequently, the acting brings depth despite occasional gaps in character progression.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative often struggles with coherence and pacing, resulting in an episodic structure that can feel disjointed. Critics remark on the screenplay’s unfocused progression and abrupt tonal shifts that undermine engagement. While the documentary-style testimonies introduce originality, they sometimes exacerbate structural fragmentation. In sum, the script’s uneven architecture diminishes the film’s overall momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Regarding the sensory experience, the film’s auditory and visual elements coalesce into a haunting atmosphere. The score and sound design support the emotional intensity, shading scenes with palpable tension. Visually, the palette and lighting choices reinforce the thematic contrasts between despair and fleeting hope. On balance, the sensory cohesion enriches the viewing experience despite occasional tonal inconsistencies.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Concerning rewatch factor, the film’s strong visual and emotional moments provide incentive for repeat viewings. The evocative imagery and measured directorial approach reward careful observation. However, the fragmented narrative and sporadic pacing issues may lessen enthusiasm on subsequent watches. Ultimately, the striking atmosphere offers moments of renewed discovery, though the uneven storytelling can impede full revisitation.

Box office

Paradise Box Office & Budget

Paradise grossed $945,991 worldwide on a $4.6 million budget, 20% of what it cost. $39,622 came from the US and Canada and $906,369 (96%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$946K

20% of its budget back

US & Canada
$39.6K
International
$906.4K
Budget
$4.6M
US & Canada 4% Rest of the world 96%
Cars

Cars in Paradise

11 cars on screen, including the 2014 Jaguar F-Type X152 and the 2014 Kia Optima.

All 11 cars
  • 2014 Jaguar F-Type X152 in Paradise 2014 Jaguar F-Type X152 Important role
  • 2014 Kia Optima in Paradise 2014 Kia Optima Important role
  • 2007 Jeep Wrangler in Paradise 2007 Jeep Wrangler Minor role
  • 2013 Nissan Armada in Paradise 2013 Nissan Armada Minor role
Details

Paradise Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Ray” and “Rai”.

Also known as
  • Ray
  • Rai
  • Raj
  • Paraíso
  • Рај
  • Рай
  • Παράδεισος
  • Paraiso
  • 战争天堂
  • 파라다이스
  • 尋找天堂的3個人
  • Paradies
+2 more
  • Rojus
  • Édenkert

Seen Paradise?

FAQ

Paradise FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Paradise, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Paradise?

Paradise runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).

When was Paradise released?

Paradise was released on October 6, 2017.

Who directed Paradise?

Paradise was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky.

More films by Andrei Konchalovsky

Who is in the cast of Paradise?

Paradise stars Yuliya Vysotskaya as Olga, Philippe Duquesne as Jules and Christian Clauss as Helmut, among 11 credited actors.

How much did Paradise make at the box office?

Paradise grossed $945,991 worldwide ($39,622 domestic, $906,369 international) on a budget of $4.6 million.

How is Paradise rated?

Paradise has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52 on Metacritic and 3.6/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Paradise have a post-credit scene?

No. Paradise has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Paradise in?

The original language of Paradise is German.

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