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Wild Rose Review Pat Byrne

Wild Rose, directed by Tom Harper, screenplay by Glasgow born Nicole Taylor,  was one of the films I’d marked out as a ‘must see’ at Glasgow Film Festival but it wasn’t to be.  It’s back at Glasgow Film theatre and I was determined to catch it this time round. (The film runs until 25 April, 2019). Get yourselves along and lap up Jessie Buckley, who is absolutely superb as Rose-Lynn the irresponsible, just-out-of-jail, single mum obsessed with her dream of becoming a country singer in Nashville.

Her mum, Marion,  played by Julie Walters, has other plans and thinks it’s about time Rose-Lynn settled down and cared for her two kids, who’ve formed a strong bond with their gran while their mum has been inside. She does a great job combining disapproval of her delinquent daughter with sympathy and affection. But it’s Jessie Buckley, who steals the show with a truly magnetic performance – with her tagged ankle and white cowboy boots Rose-Lynn is unquenchable, cheeky and charismatic. She’s also got a great voice and impresses her new boss Susanna (Sophie Okonedo) with her talent when she starts work cleaning her posh house. The scene where the young singer helps herself from the drinks cabinet and belts out her country songs as she hoovers makes for very entertaining cinema.

Rose-Lynn appears to be settling down building a home for her kids when Susanna takes up the cause of getting the young singer to Nashville. But I’m not going to give any more of the story away. Get yourself along to see this smashing film, previously screened at Toronto International Festival and  BFI  London.

Glaswegians, of course, love films set in their city and I loved all the familiar scenes –  the Grand Ole Opry with Janey Godley behind the bar never looked so good and what a night when Jessie took to the stage, belting out her self-penned songs.  There are plenty of pleasing cameos and we see another great performance when Phil and Aly join Rose-Lynn on stage at the  Old Fruitmarket. Casting is superb and includes that man of the moment James Harkness, Rose-Lynn’s wastrel boyfriend.

It’s a memorable, tearjerking, uplifting movie.  Jessie Buckley is truly outstanding.

The soundtrack from the film has recently been released.

Pat Byrne, April, 2019

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