The Absence of Eden

The wonderful Zoe Saldaña plays Esmee, a Mexican migrant desperately trying to escape the tentacles of human and drug trafficking on both sides of the border.

A strong calling card for Perego.

In this taut and gripping drama from director/co-writer Marco Perego, Saldaña delivers arguably her most impactful performance yet in a film that mirrors today’s headlines...

Zoe Saldaña is compelling as a Mexican woman on the run from a cartel, but the script doesn't stand up to the strength of her performance.


Overall, The Absence of Eden is undoubtedly a much-needed film in today’s political scenario. This is especially true given the upcoming elections in the United States, which seem to always spark discussions around immigration and border policies.

The Absence of Eden has an absence of a cohesive plot. This clumsy drama portrays multiple sides of undocumented immigration and law enforcement in the U.S., but the story falls apart in the last dreadful 30 minutes.

There are deeper issues that require more digging, and the film shines a light on them, but the pull of roping things together doesn’t allow it to invest in making needed statements definitively.

Despite The Absence of Eden's flaws, it will likely make viewers think about the reasons that people undertake the harrowing journey to the United States and how vulnerable they are to exploitation and violence.

The Absence of Eden pulls no punches in its harrowing portrayal of the immigration crisis, but lacks nuance on a divisive issue that isn't black and white.

Immersing us in the stressful unease along the border, this melodramatic thriller lacks the subtlety and nuance to bring anything new to the hot-button conversation.