Almost Paradise

Julio Cesar and his mother have made a life out of small comforts: salsa and merengue nights, shared memories, and the slim safety of modest pay from working for a local drug dealer. Their home is affectionate but stifling, governed by routine and quiet compromises that keep them afloat. When Ines, a young Colombian drug mule, arrives, her presence upends the fragile order. Her looks and unpredictable nature introduce desire, suspicion, and new risks that test loyalties. The film watches how daily routines and music mask deeper tensions, showing the strain of survival without revealing how those pressures will ultimately resolve.

Directed by Enrico Maria Artale and released in 2024, Almost Paradise stars Edoardo Pesce as Julio Cesar, with Margarita Rosa de Francisco, María del Rosario, and Gabriel Montesi. The production blends intimate human drama with rhythmic dance sequences.

No official box office figures have been widely reported for Almost Paradise. The film appears to have had a selective release in art-house venues and smaller markets, relying more on festival exposure and niche audiences than on mainstream commercial distribution.

While not a mainstream phenomenon, the film has prompted conversation about how music and movement shape memory and desire. Several scenes of dance and quiet domestic ritual have been singled out online for their atmosphere and tone, and performances by Pesce and María del Rosario have been highlighted by viewers.

Critical responses have been modestly positive, reflected in a 7.2/10 average from a small pool of votes. Reviewers and audiences note strong lead performances and a distinct focus on themes of family loyalty, economic precarity, moral ambiguity, and the way dance carries joy and subtle unease in the characters' lives.