Eden, film review: Hansen-Løve's mini-epic deals with love, break-ups and death

(15) Mia Hansen-Løve, 128 mins. Starring: Félix de Givry, Hugo Conzelmann

Old-school raver: Félix de Givry as the DJ Paul in ‘Eden’

Mia Hansen-Løve's latest feature is inspired by events in the life of her brother, Sven, who co-wrote the screenplay. It's an intriguing and pulsating variation on the rake's progress-type fable. The main character, Paul (Félix de Givry), is a brilliant student who throws in his chances of a literary or academic career to become a DJ as part of a fast-rising garage duo.

Paul is young and carefree but the film, which has a lengthy running time, shows him losing his way and refusing to grow up as the world moves on without him. Hansen-Løve captures the ecstasy-driven hedonism at raves but still manages to make the film into an intimate character study.

She shows the intoxicating excitement of Paul's life and doesn't moralise about his downward spiral. The film is a mini-epic, spanning two decades and dealing in episodic fashion with love, break-ups and death. As Paul, De Givry has an easy-going charm but he is particular and driven in his approach to his music.