Rose Plays Julie

Rose Plays Julie is a masterclass in film making, to say the least. Don't let the one sentence plot summary fool you, Rose Plays Julie defies genres to create an unforgettable and relevant story. The film covers difficult subject matter, and at times is difficult to watch. That being said, topics were handled with respect and did not seem gratuitous.

The use of symbolism and foreshadowing is unparalleled- how they made everything seem so intentional yet not contrived is beyond me. The use of sound is another strength- music that waxes and wanes allows the viewer a glimpse into the mindset of the characters. Favouring reactions over dialogue is a bold choice that absolutely works- when a character finally speaks, you hold your breath to listen. Orla Brady, Ann Skelly and Aidan Gillen are giving the performances of their careers.

All in all, Rose Plays Julie is nuanced, riveting and one of a kind.

A young woman seeks her birth mother and discovers a secret past which is revealed fairly early and leads to some unpleasant encounters for young Rose. The lead actresses are quite good as the mother and daughter attempting to repair a tragedy. I found the film to move a bit too slow for my taste but the story is a good one until an ending which left too many questions unanswered. I can still recommend Rose Plays Julie.

I didn't expect this film to be so powerful. It's emotionally gripping and intense. It's well worth watching.

Well-crafted drama thriller. The acting is all-around stellar.

The twists were actual twists that I didn't see coming. I was a little worried there would be too many, and they'd just be twists for the sake of twists. But I think they were all beneficial. Their pacing was intelligently embedded in the plot and characters.

Excellent ending, too. I started off sarcastically thinking "way to be human" of Orla Brady's character. Then, ended up thinking "way to be human" of her character, but with all sincerity.

I didn't like it. The movie is too slow, dark and depressing and the main lead (Ann Skelly) is too dramatic and disconnected. I couldn't feel it, couldn't relate to her character. Orla Brady Aidan Gillen were good but the film is too slow. There's not enough character development to let the audience feel the process of shock, pain and anger.

The ending is also very confusing. It seems he kept doing it but yet he felt guilty enough to not fight back. Strange movie. What was the point of it? What conclusions are we supposed to reach after watching it? I can't say I liked it.

I also did not like the animal scenes. First because it was obvious where they were going with it and second because there was no need for it. Why did they show us that? The scene with the cow was absolutely gruesome! I felt more sorry for the animals then for the characters. Luckily there's a "no animal were harmed" in the credits but I still think it was completely unnecessary.