Paradise on Earth

In 1863, a young boy named Benedict sets out on a journey sent by his family, joining 83 Czech and German settlers from the village of Stod in the Pilsen region. Leaving the only world he has ever known, he faces a long and perilous voyage across the ocean to the far side of the world. In the wild and almost mythical landscape of New Zealand, shaped by raw nature and Māori tribes, he searches not only for a better life but for his own place within it. Through Benedikt’s eyes, we witness the courage, struggles, and resilience of those who left their homeland to build the settlement of Puhoi. This is both a chronicle of migration and a coming-of-age story of loss, growth, and the search for home in a place where none existed. Puhoi still stands as a testament to their faith, solidarity, and the quiet imprint of a boy forced to grow up far too soon.

Director’s statement
I am drawn to this story because beneath its historical setting I see a universal reflection on faith, hope, migration and the human desire for a new beginning. I want to create an emotionally driven film that explores the clash of cultures and beliefs while remaining deeply human, authentic and unpredictable. The encounters between Czech, German, Scottish, Irish and Māori perspectives give the project a strong international dimension and a powerful resonance with the present day. Animation offers the freedom to express these ideas through metaphor, visual transformation and emotion. I want to develop an art-house, painterly 3D language that moves away from conventional cartoon aesthetics and allows dream and reality to coexist. The visual world should be rich, atmospheric and expressive, with stylised environments and character design revealing the inner states of the protagonists. Nature will play an essential role, transforming alongside the emotional landscape of the film. My aim is to create a visually distinctive and emotionally powerful work that connects historical experience with questions that remain relevant today.