In late 18th century Vienna, its Rococo style in full bloom, pseudo-science, blind faith, and sex discrimination still remain while a new rationalism is on its way to proliferation. Although PARADIS, a friend of MOZART and a pianist loses her sight at her early age, she gains popularity for her talent playing the harpsichord, which offsets her lost eyesight. With the help of Dr. MESMER¡¯s unique methods of muscle exercises and manipulating magnetic fields of energy, she regains her eyesight to some extent. Her repressive and ostentatious parents, however, are not entirely happy with her regained eyesight as her musical technique seems to lost practice and, accordingly, her fame fades away. This also creates a certain chaos in her mind as she begins to receive an excess of wholly new sensations.
Mademoiselle Paradis does not supply audiences with any easy-to-follow guidelines. Based on the novel Mesmerized by Alissa WALSER, the film is cast onto the background of the patriarchy deeply rooted in 18th century European high society and the discriminatory practices concerning women and disability while telling the true story of the talented Maria Theresia von PARADIS and the generous Dr. Franz MESMER. Director Barbara ALBERT has forged an exquisite piece delicately decorated with intensive but intimate playing scenes, and denoting the spatial division between the nobles and servants, with soundtrack, costume, and cinematography. Most of all, Maria DRAGUS, an actress from Romania, shines throughout the film with her passionate enactment of PARADIS. [SONG Hyo Joung]