There has been much talk about women taking the reigns in the entertainment industry–but for her directorial debut, Paradise Hills, Alice Waddington wanted to be certain that this sort of agency extended into the characters on the screen. A gorgeously shot fantasy futuristic film--Paradise Hills follows Uma (Emma Roberts), a bold and determined young woman from the upper echelons of society. When she refuses to heed her mother’s wishes to marry a horrible man for his wealth-Uma finds herself shipped off to Paradise. Led by The Duchess (Milla Jovovich), Paradise is a picturesque boarding school with a spa-like appearance. Its mission is to convert rebellious young women into demure, agreeable ladies.
Upon her arrival, Uma encounters –Yu (Awkwafina), Amarna (Eiza Gonzalez) and Chloe (Danielle Macdonald). Together the ladies discover that things at Paradise aren’t quite what they seem. With stunning sets and lavish costuming–the core of Paradise Hills remains with the women, and what happens when silenced voices are compelled to speak for themselves and blaze their own paths despite treacherous terrain. Ahead of Paradise Hills‘ debut–STYLECASTER chatted with Waddington about the need for female-led and diverse films–why this story spoke to her heart and all about that stunning costuming.
“I have a few cousins who are, 12, 13, 14 years old,” Waddington reflected on why Paradise Hills spoke to her. “The world is continuously telling them that they’re not going to be perfect enough, or beautiful enough, or popular enough, and that the real versions of themselves don’t matter and that they need to change who they are to fit into society. I just wanted to tell them that all of their imperfections make them beautiful. They don’t need to change for other people, they need to find the people who love them for who they truly are. That was my intention was with the film. When I was 12, 13, 14 years old I was a big fan of fantasy, and I was a big fan of all science fiction. And I loved Lord of the Rings, and Ender’s Game and The Neverending Story, but I couldn’t see myself in those narratives. I essentially wanted to create a story in which I could rescue princesses and slay dragons myself.”
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