‘Escobar: Paradise Lost’ Explores the Life of Colombian Drug Lord Pablo Escobar and the Cartel Culture

What do you do when your girlfriend’s father is the greatest cocaine kingpin in the world? You go for it. Written and directed by Andrea Di Stefano, “Escobar: Paradise Lost” hones in on a tricky love affair as Nick Brady (Josh Hutcherson) finds himself romantically involved with Maria (Claudia Traisac), who happens to be “like a daughter” to the infamous Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro). Set in a flashback to 1983, Paradise Lost explores the conundrum of the Colombian Cartel culture and its affects on those associated with it. Like a cancer, it’s influence spreads on those it touches.

Set in Colombia, but filmed in Panama, this French-Spanish romantic thriller has already seen success at various film festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival, Rome Film Festival and Zurich Film Festival. Critics have praised Di Stefano, whose directorial debut is showcased with Paradise Lost, for her work in the director’s chair. The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “”Di Stefano shows some real directorial chops in the film’s central and impressively extended action-suspense sequence.”, as well as praising del Toro’s performance, championing him to Marlon Brando’s Oscar-winning performance in The Godfather.

Di Stefano set her eyes on del Toro for the role of Escobar, feeling that he could capture Escobar’s brooding presence. “I think he’s one of the most talented actors who ever existed,” Di Stefano said to the Daily Beast. “I really believe that there are few actors in American cinema after the Second World War who can play these kinds of characters. There’s Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, De Niro, Pacino [and Del Toro].”

What makes the film so appealing is the enigmatic and controversial man at its center, Pablo Escobar. While many consider him to be maliciously evil, there are still masses of people who adore him for his Robin Hood-like philanthropy to the impoverished people of Colombia. Furthermore, Escobar’s upbringing is subject on whether he is simply a product of his environment or truly evil. This enigmatic cloud looming over his true personality can make it difficult for an actor to capture the essence of the character. To achieve this, del Toro researched the reasoning behind people’s opinions and perceptions of Escobar.

The film strays from the typical biopic, more so encompassing the traits of a historical fiction piece like “Titanic” (1997). Di Stefano cleverly unveils Pablo through the eyes of the naïve lovers Nick and Maria. This gives the film more pulp and draws the audience in on the unveiling of the world’s most hated and loved cartel kingpin.

Escobar: Paradise Lost hits theaters Jan. 16th.