Nearly a century ago, an uninhabited island in the Galapagos became home for several German expatriates who, as Ron Howard’s “Eden” makes clear, did not find paradise.

Howard (“Apollo 13”) co-wrote, produced and directs what is truly a passion project which chronicles three different and often rival groups.

Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby are Dr. Friedrich Ritter and his wife Dore Strauch who in 1929 take residence on the isle of Floreana  so Ritter may write his manifesto and Dora treat her multiple sclerosis. German newspapers make him an exotic celebrity, a tabloid headliner.

This radical philosopher inspires Margret and Heinz Wittmer (Sydney Sweeney, Daniel Brühl) and their young son to follow and farm.

Conflict comes with the sexually provocative, ruthlessly self-absorbed, self-described “Baroness” (Ana de Armas) who brings two lovers, an Ecuadorian servant and a rapacious capacity for evil.

“There’s irony in the title ‘Eden.’ This isn’t exactly what they had dreamed of,” Howard explained in a phone interview. “At the time, scientifically, it was thought of as the last habitable, yet uninhabited island in the world. So that’s what attracted them: To take on that challenge of a pioneer spirit.

“But they didn’t go there as a community. They went as individuals. The clash came when they had to try to create a little mini civilization, and it didn’t work out very well for them.”

Howard, 71, has been waiting over 15 years to tell this story.  “It just captivated me when I first heard about these colliding personalities who went to this place with this hope of going off the grid and reinventing themselves. It’s like a test tube situation that is full of twists and turns.

“I also always knew it was a great acting opportunity for a tremendous ensemble. That’s one of the things I enjoy the most: Taking on challenging scenes with world-class actors. And in this movie we have that every day.”

Here truly is one of the most astonishing things he’s ever done, a sequence that simultaneously charts the Baroness’s two lovers desperately sent to steal the Wittmers’ canned goods. They’re surprised by pregnant Margret whose water breaks and who must, without any assistance, give birth while holding off a pack of wild dogs.

“I’ve seen that cave where that baby, Rolf, was born,” Howard revealed. “And it’s just as stunning to imagine that people really lived through this drama.”

As to possible murders of those who mysteriously disappeared, no official judgement has been made.

“There are elements of this story that are a mystery, but it’s not very difficult to put the pieces together,” Howard concluded, “and surmise very much what might have happened in those most violent moments.”