Max’s final choice in Paradise changes everything

Paradise, a German sci-fi thriller released on Netflix in 2023, presents a thought-provoking narrative set in a future where time is the most valuable commodity. The film quickly became a worldwide hit, being the most-watched non-English movie on Netflix in its first week with 8.1 million views. Its exciting idea and strong character-focused story make it a top choice in science fiction.

In the last scenes of the movie, Max is shown standing far away and observing Elena on a beach. Elena is now much younger and expecting a child with a different man. Their relationship is irreparably damaged, as this scene demonstrates. He is still stuck with the results of his decisions, while the woman he risked everything for has moved on.

Elena's pregnancy depicts that she has moved past the challenges that shaped her and begun a new life. By the end of Paradise, Max is confronted with a decision that forces him to rethink everything he once believed about time and morality. After Elena leaves Max, he is appointed as the new Adam group head.

The weight of exchanging years for financial gain becomes undeniable, and his final action exposes the unsettling reality of a world where life itself is treated as currency. His choice shows the deep ethical conflicts of such a system, leaving viewers to wonder whether true freedom is even possible in a society built on the commodification of time.

The climax of Paradise: Max watches Elena move on

Max joins the Adam group

A still from 'Paradise' (Image via Netflix)

Lilith, Adam's leader, reveals startling details about Max's past throughout the movie, including how he unintentionally contributed to Elena's suffering by allowing her to enter Aeon's system. Max's faith in his prior beliefs is shaken by these revelations, which ultimately lead him to decide to fight Aeon.

Max has given his all to the group's mission by the time he rejoins them at the end. The man who unquestioningly backed the system is no longer him. Instead, having witnessed firsthand the terrible toll it takes on innocent lives, he is prepared to destroy it.

Elena takes Marie’s years despite Max’s objection

One of the most defining moments of Paradise is when Elena proceeds with the illegal age-reversal procedure, stealing 38 years from Marie, the daughter of Aeon’s CEO, Sophie Theissen. Max, who initially supported this plan, has a last-minute change of heart. He tries to convince Elena to abandon the idea, but she refuses.

Her decision is influenced by Marie’s earlier attempt to shoot her, proving that she was not an innocent victim in this conflict. In Elena’s mind, reclaiming her lost years is justified. She believes she deserves them after everything that has been taken from her. Max, however, cannot bring himself to accept this trade, ultimately leading to their separation.

Max is left behind as Elena drives to the clinic

In a tense confrontation, Max pleads with Elena to reconsider her choice. His ethical stance shifts as he realizes that taking Marie’s years is no different from the injustice that was done to Elena. He believes they should find another way, but Elena refuses to listen.

Frustrated, she forces Max out of the car and drives off alone to the clinic in Lithuania. This moment marks the end of their relationship. Max, who spent the entire film trying to save Elena, is now left behind, powerless to stop what he once fought for.

The shootout between Aeon and Adam

Before reaching the clinic, Max, Elena, and Marie find themselves caught in a deadly clash between Aeon’s private army and the Adam resistance group. The rebels hope to use Max and Elena as bait to lure Sophie Theissen into their grasp. However, the mission goes awry when a gunfight erupts, leading to Lilith’s death.

Sophie is nearly killed but survives due to a bulletproof vest. Meanwhile, Max and Elena manage to escape with Marie, setting the stage for the final confrontation over her stolen years.

Max kidnaps the wrong person

In his desperation to save Elena, Max originally planned to kidnap Sophie Theissen, the woman responsible for taking his wife’s years. However, he mistakenly captures her daughter, Marie, instead.

Though Marie is genetically compatible with Elena, making the transfer possible, her opposition to her mother’s actions complicates the situation. Max initially believes they can justify using her for the procedure, but doubts begin to creep in. This moral dilemma fuels his eventual decision to oppose the plan.

Max discovers the truth about Aeon and Sophie

As the story unfolds, Max learns that Sophie orchestrated the events that led to Elena’s forced donation. She arranged for their house to burn down, ensuring that Elena would be left with no choice but to sell her years.

This revelation crushes Max. He realizes he was unknowingly part of a system designed to exploit people like Elena. This discovery is a turning point for him, leading him to question everything he once believed in.

Elena’s tragic transformation

Before the events of the climax in Paradise, Elena struggles to accept her new reality as a nearly 70-year-old woman. She moves in with her parents and returns to work as a doctor. However, she feels like an outcast in a world that no longer sees her the same way.

When Max presents her with the opportunity to reclaim her youth, she is hesitant at first but ultimately agrees. This decision sets off a chain of events that leads to the film’s devastating ending, proving that reclaiming what was lost comes with its own consequences.

Max’s journey from employee to rebel

At the beginning of Paradise, Max is fully committed to Aeon’s mission. As a donation manager, he believes in the system and plays a direct role in persuading people to sell their years. However, when his wife becomes a victim of the very process he once supported, his perspective shifts dramatically.

His initial plan is simple— get Elena’s years back and leave Aeon behind. But as he uncovers the deeper corruption within the system, his motivations evolve. By the film’s end, Max is no longer just fighting for Elena. He has become a key figure in the resistance against Aeon, taking a stand against the very institution he once served.

Paradise is available to stream on Netflix.

Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay