The True Story Behind the Search for Utopia in Eden

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The thought of escaping to a secluded island for a fresh start is incredibly appealing. In fact, back in the early 1930s, a group of eight individuals from Europe actually followed through with this dream, aiming to create their own utopia.

Titled “Eden,” directed by Ron Howard, this drama is loosely based on actual individuals who sought refuge in the Galapagos island of Floreana during the rise of fascism, hoping to establish a new life. The diverse group, consisting of a doctor and his patient, a couple with their child, and a baroness accompanied by her two lovers, inhabited Floreana from 1929 to 1935. Far from being a utopia, this remote location often fostered conflict in its small, self-serving community. In the year 1934, two of its residents suddenly vanished without a trace, leaving their fate unknown to this day.

Howard suggests that today’s audience might recognize similarities between this century-old experiment and contemporary situations. In an interview over Zoom, he explains, “The notion that one could become their best self by escaping modern society remains a timeless ideal.” However, he cautions, “The challenge lies in the fact that we carry society with us, as we are an integral part of it.

TIME spoke with Howard, screenwriter Noah Pink, and Abbott Kahler, the author of the 2024 book titled “Eden Undone”. It’s important to note that Abbott Kahler did not contribute to the film and had not watched it before its premiere.

Why people moved to the Galapagos Island of Floreana

In 1929, a couple, who later became central figures in the story Eden, arrived on Floreana Island following a German doctor named Friedrich Ritter (portrayed by Jude Law in the movie) and his companion Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), who was both his patient and lover due to her multiple sclerosis. This pair attempted to establish residence on the island, even though others had previously failed to do so.

During turbulent times, they chose to depart from Germany, marking the end of the Weimar Republic’s rule, the ascent of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and the aftermath of the Wall Street stock market crash in 1929, which destabilized economies worldwide, sparking widespread fear and instability.

In the aftermath of his experiences in World War I, Ritter developed nerve damage and post-traumatic stress disorder. With a vision of creating an ideal society, he invested his time penning down ideas for a novel global system on a secluded island. Throughout the film, he penned thought-provoking phrases such as “God is no more” and “pain reveals truth.” Contrary to popular belief that he sought solitude, Ritter desired recognition, as Kahler points out.

Explorer Eugene McDonald, during his individual oceanic expedition, encountered a couple named Friedrich and Dore on Floreana Island. Upon returning to America, he shared this discovery with the Associated Press straight away. This tale of Friedrich and Dore’s experiment became headlines worldwide, causing comparisons to Adam and Eve living in their own paradise-a name that later inspired the title of a 2025 film.

In the movie, it’s depicted that a German couple, Heinz (played by Daniel Brühl) and Margret Wittmer (portrayed by Sydney Sweeney), became interested in the lifestyle of Friedrich and Dore, which led them to join forces with them around early 1932. Their primary motivation was to seek a better life for their ailing son Harry (Jonathan Tittel), who they believed would thrive in a tropical environment. Much like Friedrich, Heinz had been deeply affected by his war experiences during World War I, as evidenced by the constant shaking of his fingers. Additionally, he held a significant position within the Weimar Republic and was concerned about potential political persecution as new forces rose to power.

In 1932, Antonia Wagner von Wehrborn Bosquet (portrayed by Ana de Armas) made an appearance accompanied by two men, Rudolf Lorenz (Felix Kammerer) and Robert Philippson (Toby Wallace). It was whispered that she had murdered someone in Paris and thus needed to depart. Her husband was a celebrated French war hero, and it was also insinuated that his mother loathed her so intensely that she bribed Antonia to leave. However, what’s been established beyond doubt is that the baroness harbored ambitions of her own – the creation of a utopia, in the form of a lavish resort on the island.

What living on Floreana was really like

Preparing for an isolated island life without dentists, Friedrich opted to have all his natural teeth extracted and instead wore a set of stainless-steel dentures. To sustain themselves, Friedrich and Dore carried seeds with them, planning to grow crops in their garden, along with the eggs from preexisting chickens on the island. Adapting swiftly to their new habitat, Dore formed a special bond with an island donkey she discovered and made her pet. On occasion, the couple would roam about their home barefoot, and one day, Dore inadvertently stepped on a swarm of sand fleas, requiring Friedrich to extract 32 of these tiny pests from the sole of her foot.

On the island, the Wittmers hunted wildlife as their source of food. To protect their garden from being destroyed by cattle, they had to be vigilant. As depicted in the film, one evening when Harry and Heinz were out hunting late, Mrs. Wittmer went into labor alone on their property, surrounded by wild animals. Later, Howard and his group visited the specific cave where the baby was born, aiming to replicate the scene.

To maintain contact with their family from home, the Wittmers, Friedrich, and Dore wrote letters and placed them in a barrel at a spot on the island where ships passing by could stop and retrieve them. Some of these correspondences made it to newspapers, and Friedrich even contributed articles to Atlantic Monthly.These publications sparked interest among visitors eager to witness the lifestyle of the settlers, which Friedrich was more than happy to share, accepting any gifts they brought along.

According to Kahler, it appears that this individual claimed self-sufficiency, but instead of becoming less dependent, he relied increasingly on the American explorers as they provided seeds, food, and weapons. Thus, his actions suggest hypocrisy.

The baroness found adapting to a rural existence challenging and exhibited peculiar conduct. An article in TIME from 1934 disclosed that she enjoyed hurting animals only to heal them later. She appeared to view Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray as a protective charm, but her reason for doing so remains uncertain. In the film, she explains it was due to the book’s motifs about eternal youth. TIME also mentioned that she gained notoriety for exposing her silk underwear and pearl-decorated pistol.

According to Kahler, contrary to the film’s depiction, the baroness did not charm George Allan Hancock (played by Richard Roxburgh), despite her reputation for seducing tourists. However, Kahler did discover a statement from one of Hancock’s comrades, who mentioned that she had invited Hancock and a crew member to her residence, with Hancock remarking afterwards, “What a woman!

To summarize, it appears that the Wittmers, the Baroness, and Friedrich and Dore did not have a friendly relationship. Contrary to what the Wittmers expected, Friedrich and Dore were not cooperative neighbors, as depicted in the movie.

Kahler suggests that when multiple variations of an ideal society (utopias) coexist, it becomes challenging for individuals to attain their own personal vision of utopia.

The baroness’s mysterious disappearance

Friedrich and Heinz Wittmer shared a strong aversion towards the baroness, and they were making efforts to remove her from the island, but not in the manner depicted in “Eden“.

To this very moment, it remains a mystery as to why the baroness and her partner, Philippson, vanished without a trace. The intriguing details surrounding their disappearance continue to captivate screenwriters in Hollywood, sparking countless speculative films.

In actuality, Ritter penned a letter accusing the Wittmers of causing the deaths, but this claim is unfounded. Kahler’s private belief is that Rudolf, the baroness’s other lover who often claimed he was being mistreated by her, might have been involved in their murders along with Friedrich, as a possible accomplice.

According to Kahler, when Dore discovered that Friedrich was somehow involved, she grew extremely fearful of him and began devising a plan to escape on her own terms.

Friedrich met his demise towards the end of 1934 following consumption of contaminated poultry. This raised suspicions among Howard and Pink, given that he was a doctor. As Pink put it, “the notion of an accidental consumption never quite rang true for me and Ron.” Therefore, the question arises: if it wasn’t an accident, then what transpired?

After Dore didn’t contaminate his food, it took her quite some time to seek assistance, as Kahler explains. Instead of acting promptly, she allowed him to remain in a critical state for about a day-and-a-half before finally acknowledging that she had contacted someone for help.

What happened to the settlers and lessons for today

The film concludes with Dore departing and questioning Margaret about whether she’s certain she doesn’t wish to accompany her. Instead, Margaret responds, “This feels like home.

Dore departed in 1935, returning to Germany afterwards. She later wrote a personal account titled “Satan Came to Eden: A Survivor’s Tale of Life on Floreana“, with ‘Satan’ representing the baroness. Her conviction was that Lorenz was responsible for the deaths of the baroness and Philippson, and burning their remains.

In 1934, Rudolf made an attempt to depart from Floreana using a Norwegian fishing vessel, but instead, he was discovered deceased on the Galapagos island of Marchena.

In 1959, Margret wrote a memoir titled “Floreana: A Woman’s Journey to the Galapagos“. It was the Wittmers who managed to survive on Floreana, and their relatives currently operate a hotel on the island that still stands today. Margaret lived until 2000, passing away at the age of 95. During their research, Howard and his team encountered Wittmer’s daughter as well as locals who had known Margret. As Pink explains, “There are people on the island who had interacted with her while she was alive, and each person seems to have at least four anecdotes about the Wittmer family.

The tale of individuals seeking refuge on a secluded isle may strike a chord with those who experienced the COVID-19 confinements, while also reflecting our contemporary times, characterized by the surge of right-leaning political figures.

How can we improve society amidst growing authoritarianism?” Indeed, the movie and its historical foundation serve as a reflection of our current state.

Howard remarks: “There’s an appeal in leaving everything behind. It’s confusing, it disrupts things, and there’s a certain charm to it. Here are some individuals who dared to do it. It serves as a case study. As it turns out, it makes for quite an intriguing and engaging story. However, it’s also a warning because it’s not simple. Instead of avoiding it, we should acknowledge our identity, our capabilities, and confront society.

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2025-08-22 17:58