Around Paradise - Amber Wilkinson - 20269

Key Takeaways

• El Paraíso Verde spans 14.23 sq km, housing 500 families.
• Community markets to wealthy conspiracy theorists and anti‑vaxxers.
• Documentary uses observational style, limiting critical insight.
• Residents blend myth‑making with extremist ideologies.
• Project aimed for 20,000 families, far short of goal.

Summary

"Around Paradise" is a 2026 documentary by Russian filmmaker Yulia Lokshina that explores El Paraíso Verde, a 14.23 sq km gated enclave in southern Paraguay. Founded by Erwin and Sylvia Annau, the community markets to affluent conspiracy theorists, right‑wing extremists and anti‑vaxxers, currently housing about 500 families far below its 20,000‑family target. Lokshina employs an observational approach, immersing viewers in daily life but offering limited interrogation of the residents’ extremist beliefs. Critics note the film’s lack of contextual depth, leaving the broader social impact ambiguous.

Pulse Analysis

The rise of gated, ideologically homogeneous settlements in Latin America reflects a broader global shift toward self‑selected, insulated communities. El Paraíso Verde, situated in Paraguay’s Caazapá region, exemplifies how affluent individuals can purchase vast tracts of land to create havens for fringe beliefs, from anti‑vaccination rhetoric to conspiracy‑driven paranoia. Such enclaves often promise safety and autonomy, yet they also amplify echo chambers, complicating regional governance and social cohesion. By situating the colony within a historical lineage of "crackpot colonialism," the documentary underscores a pattern of outsider groups reshaping local landscapes for ideological purposes.

Lokshina’s observational filmmaking offers viewers an intimate, almost voyeuristic glimpse into daily routines, yet it stops short of probing the underlying power structures and psychological drivers of the residents. The absence of intertitles or investigative questioning leaves audiences to infer motivations, which can dilute the film’s capacity to challenge extremist narratives. This stylistic choice mirrors a broader tension in documentary practice: balancing immersion with critical analysis. For scholars and media professionals, the film serves as a case study in how narrative framing can either illuminate or obscure the complexities of closed societies.

For policymakers and investors, the existence of communities like El Paraíso Verde signals potential risks to regional stability and public health, especially when anti‑vaccine sentiment spreads beyond the enclave’s borders. Monitoring such settlements becomes essential for anticipating spillover effects, from misinformation campaigns to cross‑border extremist networking. As the United States watches similar trends domestically, the documentary’s insights—though limited—prompt a reevaluation of how private land use, ideological segregation, and media representation intersect in shaping future socio‑political landscapes.