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The Ballad of Jack and Rose

  • 2005
  • R
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
13K
YOUR RATING
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:31
2 Videos
41 Photos
Drama

A father and daughter isolated on an island off the East Coast and living on a once-thriving commune grapple with the limits of family and sexuality.A father and daughter isolated on an island off the East Coast and living on a once-thriving commune grapple with the limits of family and sexuality.A father and daughter isolated on an island off the East Coast and living on a once-thriving commune grapple with the limits of family and sexuality.

  • Director
    • Rebecca Miller
  • Writer
    • Rebecca Miller
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Catherine Keener
    • Camilla Belle
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rebecca Miller
    • Writer
      • Rebecca Miller
    • Stars
      • Daniel Day-Lewis
      • Catherine Keener
      • Camilla Belle
    • 78User reviews
    • 55Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    Trailer 2:31
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    Trailer 2:31
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    Trailer 2:31
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose

    Photos41

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    Top cast9

    Edit
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Jack Slavin
    Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    • Kathleen
    Camilla Belle
    Camilla Belle
    • Rose Slavin
    Ryan McDonald
    Ryan McDonald
    • Rodney
    Paul Dano
    Paul Dano
    • Thaddius
    Jason Lee
    Jason Lee
    • Gray
    Jena Malone
    Jena Malone
    • Red Berry
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Marty Rance
    Susanna Thompson
    Susanna Thompson
    • Miriam Rance
    • Director
      • Rebecca Miller
    • Writer
      • Rebecca Miller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews78

    6.512.5K
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    Featured reviews

    cliffhanley_

    A multi-layered web of desire and confusion

    Any film starring the Daniel Day Lewis is a pretty safe bet. Although indisputably sexy, he grabs the roles which once were only for 'character actors', which in Hollywood meant past the best, not-bland, kooky, or downright ugly. This time, he's an ageing hippy from Motherwell (judging by his impeccable accent), living on in an abandoned commune with Rose, his daughter (Camilla Belle) who has been so well kept away from the corrupting influences of the outside world that she behaves like his clone, or sister, or lover. Nothing lasts for ever, and here it's Jack's failing health and Rose's growing up that threaten the status quo. Jack's attempt to patch up his way of life which is falling apart like the commune house itself, means importing his actual lover, who brings her two sons. Awkwardly for Jack, all these people have their own lives and aspirations, which is something he will have become unaccustomed to on his little island, and the clash leads everyone in directions none of them expected. A further complication is the building of a dinky housing estate which Jack's terrorist policies cannot halt, and again, the man responsible for this inroad from the modern world turns out to be a human, too. The story raises lots of questions about freedom and responsibility; not least through the fact that Jack can only live his pure, undefiled life because of inherited money. The plot is full of surprises and so are the cast, negotiating a multi-layered web of intrigue with as much delicacy as strength. Rebecca Miller clearly is a writer of singular imagination, and if this, her third film (although she started acting on-screen in 1988) is the way she intends to keep directing, then that's just fine. CLIFF HANLEY
    7noralee

    Disquieting Face Off Between Idealism and Human Nature

    "Ballad of Jack and Rose" almost works as it examines the pitfalls of extreme idealism.

    Writer/director Rebecca Miller sets up an archetypal situation, of an isolated Utopian who thinks he can create and control a perfect living environment with his daughter.

    Daniel Day Lewis makes him too sympathetic, particularly his Pyrrhic politics, while his character's nemeses are too simplistic, even as he finally is defeated by mortality and human nature, or perhaps what some theologians would consider original sin. Lewis as the dad is even more creepily naive than J. M. Barrie in "Finding Neverland" in wanting innocent children to never grow up, even while indulging his own adult needs.

    As with "Personal Velocity," Miller well captures conversational dialog within broken families, particularly across genders, and she is uncannily good at giving us young and older teens, as puberty is presented here as a palpable enemy.

    Beau Bridges's good old boy developer is an overly stereotyped builder of ticky tacky McMansions; it would have been more interesting if he was threatening the wetlands with solar powered, energy recycling houses.

    The continuing image of poisonous snakes is a bit heavy-handed symbolism of women as the cause for the fall of Eden. While Miller in a Q & A at a showing at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in NYC said she was inspired by the Gnostic Gospels, I saw ironic parallels with Lot's daughters, who coming from Sodom and Gomorrah have much in common with this daughter of a failed commune. Camilla Belle is excellent as a girl who gradually, albeit a bit scarily, discovers her powers, and her male counterparts are very believable as kids with their own problems.

    Most of the audience was disquietingly dissatisfied with the ending and coda of the film, so much of the questioning to Miller focused on those aspects, as she claimed they were not after-thoughts or revisions. But the writing and characterizations shown did not support the changes she claimed the characters had gone through to justify the denouement.

    An interesting comparison can be made with "Off the Map" which also views an alternative life style through the eyes of a budding teen age girl, but whose family is held together by an earth mother.

    The Dylan and other singer-songwriter selections on the soundtrack are very effective.
    10kaylasaylor

    Great Psychological Drama

    I'm an Indy film addict, and was iffy about watching this one because of the description above, but on a whim i bought it and watched it and fell in love. The story of Jack and Rose is told so beautifully and perfectly that as the story progressed I found myself hoping that something would change, or hoping for some plot twist saying that rose wasn't his daughter, because I truly wanted these two to work out. The devotion between father and daughter is amazingly portrayed, Daniel Day-Lewis was perfect and I cannot imagine anyone else in this movie. Once i finished watching for the first time I found myself almost in a daze, the progression of Rose's whole being was a delicate matter that was handled beautifully. There was a feeling of tension throughout that drew me in. I have never fallen in love with a movie like this before. Bravo to the writer and cast and all involved. Thank you for this beautiful film about love, loss and culture change.
    9andimacmillan

    Surprising and wonderful

    After not seeing much from Daniel Day-Lewis for a while, I was excited to see this film, though I was afraid it may not live up to what we expect from him. It was far better than I could have hoped, due not only to a terrific cast, but Rebecca Miller's writing and directing. The moments of humour ring with truth, and the characters have been developed so well, you feel voyeuristic. Daniel Day-Lewis is, as always, brilliant. The internal struggles his character goes through are poignant and completely believable. In fact, all of the characters in this story are a wonderfully realistic blend of black and white - all have virtues and all are flawed. Very thought-provoking and evocative. Visually beautiful, as well. This is a very underrated film and deserves far more recognition than it seems to have received.
    8clg121

    Great movie - Loved the setting!

    Loved the movie. The beautiful story went well with the picturesque setting in our smallest Canadian province on the east coast, Prince Edward Island, where the movie was filmed. Daniel Day Lewis was great. I wonder, did he have to lose a lot of weight to play the part? Ryan MacDonald did an excellent job and gave the movie some comedic relief. It brought back memories of the good old commune days! Maybe a return to those days might do our world some good. Beau Bridges gave a good performance as well but the sweet innocence of Rose was really the essence of the movie. You could feel the love connection between her and her father, be it father/daughter love or the love felt between lovers.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Daniel Day-Lewis took the role as his wife, Rebecca Miller, was the writer and director. In preparation for the role he spent as much time as he could away from her.
    • Goofs
      At his house, Jack accidentally addresses Kathleen as Catherine (the name of her actress, Catherine Keener).
    • Quotes

      Gray: I wouldn't be able to do that.

      Jack Slavin: If you don't like your situation, then change it. If you can't change it, then leave it. It's your fucking life, man.

      Gray: I appreciate it.

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to the people of Souris, Eastern Kings and Charlottetown, P.E.I..
    • Connections
      Featured in Indie Sex: Teens (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      I Put a Spell on You
      Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins (as Jay Hawkins)

      Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival

      Courtesy of Fantasy, Inc.

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nunca te dejaré
    • Filming locations
      • Eastern Kings, Prince Edward Island, Canada
    • Production companies
      • IFC Productions
      • Initial Entertainment Group (IEG)
      • Elevation Filmworks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $712,275
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $59,459
      • Mar 27, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $916,051
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 52m(112 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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