Watch Paradise: Hope

Paradise: Hope is a 2013 Austrian film directed by Ulrich Seidl, and the final installment in his Paradise trilogy. The story is centered around Melanie, a young teenager who travels to an "Obesity Camp" in hope of losing weight and becoming more confident. While spending her summer in this camp, she begins exploring her sexuality and growing closer to the other camp residents.

The film takes place in Austria during the summer of 2006, and the story explores the relationship between Melanie (Melanie Lenz) and the other residents, primarily Verena (Verena Lehbauer) and Joseph (Joseph Lorenz). Melanie is a shy and reserved teenager who is sent to an obesity camp by her mother in order to lose weight and become more confident. While initially resisting the program, Melanie adjusts to her new surroundings and develops a deepening interest in her fellow residents.

Verena is Melanie's roommate, and she quickly becomes a mentor figure for Melanie, encouraging her to embrace her sexuality, and showing her how to flirt with the boys at the camp. Verena is herself quite experienced and confident, having already had sexual experiences with several boys at the camp, and she helps Melanie to become more comfortable with her own desires.

Joseph is one of the camp's caretakers, and he develops a close friendship with Melanie. They spend time together throughout the film, talking about life and relationships, and Joseph becomes a source of comfort and support for Melanie. He is kind and understanding, and Melanie sees him as a father figure, since she has been estranged from her own father for years.

As the summer progresses, Melanie becomes more confident in herself, and she and Verena start to explore their sexuality with the boys at the camp. They engage in sexual activities, such as kissing and touching, and Melanie becomes more aware of her own desires. However, her relationship with Verena becomes strained when Verena becomes jealous of Melanie's growing interest in Joseph. This tension eventually leads to a confrontation between the two girls.

The film has a beautifully shot and realistic feel to it. The setting of the obesity camp is well-done with the green nature surrounding it, while the characters are realistic and the struggle with weight and self-esteem is palpable. The lead actress, Melanie Lenz, gives an excellent performance, conveying the complexity of her character's emotions and desires with subtlety and believability. The supporting cast is also impressive, particularly Verena Lehbauer and Joseph Lorenz, who bring depth and nuance to their respective roles.

Overall, Paradise: Hope is a compelling and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of adolescence, sexuality, and self-discovery. The film doesn't shy away from difficult subject matter, but does so with intelligence, sensitivity, and honesty. It is a fitting conclusion to the Paradise trilogy and stands as a powerful work on its own merits.

Paradise: Hope is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 78.