LFF 2020: Rose - A Love Story
lffDespite a strong premise buried deep in the narrative, Rose: A Love Story offers very little to keep its audience engaged, playing many of its cards slightly too close to the chest.
Set deep in a frozen forestry area, Rose and her husband Sam (played by Sophie Rundle and Matt Stokoe, respectively) live in a secluded cabin by themselves, surrounded by traps they have set up to keep others away and to keep Rose safe as she battles a mysterious illness. Rose and Sam’s situation is turned upside down after the young Amber (Olive Gray) is caught by a trap and, as a result, is seriously injured. Struggling to break down his own inner defensive barriers created to protect the person he loves, Sam must find a way to care for his wife, all the while the situation with Amber only becomes more complex.
To provide a concise explanation of the general premise proves to be quite difficult due to the secretive nature the film shrouds the narrative in. Matt Stokoe, who works as the screenwriter alongside starring in the film, manages to set up things well for the most part. The world is brought in slowly to the viewer, with subtle clues being dropped throughout to offer mild suggestions as to what the core premise of the film truly is, as well as providing some insight to our few characters.
The cast list is short, with the film resting on the shoulders of our two leads and their relationship to keep the narrative flowing. Performance wise, things are strong: Stokoe delivers a believably overprotective carer who struggles with the looming danger and Rundle provides an interesting counter, with her more vulnerable delivery contrasting the rough nature of Sam. Yet, much like the narrative they exist within, the characters are not given a vast amount of depth to keep the mystery strong.
Tragically, even the mystery aspect slowly becomes a hurdle for the film, as the initially interesting secretiveness starts to become frustrating in nature, offering very little for a viewer to grasp on to before throwing everything at the wall in the final moments, resulting in an ending that is nothing short of disastrous. Often things feel messy and confusing, with the emotional crux of Rose and Sam’s relationship being at war with the horror elements the film is going for. This premise can and has worked in the past, with it being difficult not to draw a comparison to It Comes at Night, which – although highly divisive – managed to create a tense and engaging tone throughout, whereas Rose: A Love Story can never quite find the balance needed to deliver the tone it aims for.
Jennifer Sheridan, at times, provides a strong directorial presence, allowing the cold and isolating atmosphere to seep into the film and help viewers feel present in the surroundings. Yet even with a runtime of less than 90 minutes, things become quickly stale. Mystery in a film can be great, but only if the journey to the payoff is worth it. Sadly, the path that Rose: A Love Story takes is a slow and meandering one, resulting in a dull and forgettable experience.
