'Eden'

• SXSW Film

  Daily reviews and interviews

• God Gave Rock & Roll to Her

  BY JOSH ROSENBLATT

• A Silent Pearl Pops With New Sound

  BY MARJORIE BAUMGARTEN

• The Path to Enlightenment

  BY MARJORIE BAUMGARTEN

• 'Eden'

  BY MONICA RIESE

• 'Sun Don't Shine'

  BY MARC SAVLOV

• 'John Dies at the End'

  BY JOE O'CONNELL

• 'Decoding Deepak'

  BY ANNE S. LEWIS

• '$ellebrity'

  BY ANNE S. LEWIS

• 'Code of the West'

  BY JORDAN SMITH

• 'Gimme the Loot'

  BY MONICA RIESE

• 'Starlet'

  BY NORA ANKRUM

• 'In Our Nature'

  BY MELANIE HAUPT

• 'The Imposter'

  BY MELANIE HAUPT

• 'Francine'

  BY MARJORIE BAUMGARTEN

• 'Citadel'

  BY RICHARD WHITTAKER

• 'Blue Like Jazz'

  BY JOE O'CONNELL

• 'Jeff'

  BY ANNE S. LEWIS

• 'Lovely Molly'

  BY RICHARD WHITTAKER

• 'Booster'

  BY ASHLEY MORENO

Eden

To call this a magnificently told tale would discount its history, undersell its breathtaking cinematography, and vastly oversimplify the nuanced tragedy Megan Griffiths has brought to life. Based on one woman's true story (but no doubt informed by hundreds or thousands of others), Eden bravely examines an unsavory atrocity, a corner of our society that media largely ignores and many desperately try to forget: human trafficking and sex slavery. As the young, abducted Hyun Jae (renamed Eden in captivity), Jamie Chung gives a dynamic performance, exhibiting extraordinary growth in her character as she attempts to usurp power from those depraved degenerates who have taken everything from her. Her climb toward empowerment is wholly captivating. Combine that with an entrancing soundtrack, the beauty of the immense landscape, and a truly impressive supporting cast, and it's hard to deny Eden's success. This is a visceral, haunting work that will not soon be forgotten by any who see it.

Thursday, March 15, 3:30pm, Alamo Ritz