Drama,History
Austria,Germany
Mademoiselle Paradis is a historical drama film directed by Barbara Albert and released in 2017. The film revolves around the life of Maria Theresia von Paradis (played by Maria Dragus), a blind musician living in 18th century Vienna. Maria is a prodigious pianist who has wowed audiences since she was a child.
Despite her talent, Maria is unhappy due to her blindness. Her parents, who are a little overprotective of her, are desperate to find a cure for it. They take her to Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer (played by Devid Striesow), an Austrian physician known for his unconventional methods, who practices magnetism to cure patients.
Dr. Mesmer takes a special interest in Maria, and she soon recovers her sight after being treated by him. As Maria's vision gradually returns, she discovers that the world around her is not what she had imagined. She is shocked by what she sees and becomes increasingly withdrawn from her artistic pursuits.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mesmer has become obsessed with Maria, and as the two spend more time together, their relationship takes a strange turn. Maria becomes the subject of Mesmer's experiments and often finds herself at the center of his mesmerizing sessions.
As Maria's gift for music begins to wane, she finds comfort in her new friend, the composer Franz Joseph Haydn (played by Lukas Miko). Haydn is the only person who truly understands what Maria is going through, and together they make beautiful music.
The film is beautifully shot and features stunning performances by the cast. It is a poignant tale of art, friendship, and the price one pays for the pursuit of perfection.
