Rose Plays Julie

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 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.

Although the theme of this film is so dark and intense that it's impossible to use the words 'I enjoyed it'. Having said that for the bravery of the story, the acting and filming it is worth seeing. I was at the Irish Premiere during the Virgin Dublin International Film Festival at the weekend and was present for the all too brief Q&A afterwards featuring the directors, producer and stars Ann Skelly, Aidan Gillen & Orla Brady. The amount of effort it takes to get a good quality Irish movie made is unreal so get behind this movie, go see it even if it makes you uncomfortable.

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

Are you ever at home on a Thursday afternoon when you happen upon a story of a woman being convicted of murder after an unintended miscarriage? And then the algorithm reminds you that yet another woman has been killed by a (very nice) man? And then suddenly (or perhaps slowly) you feel the deep, primal rage of thousands of years of women rising up inside of you threatening to escape in a guttural scream of injustice and absurdity to the point you wonder if you could quit your day job and moonlight as one of The Furies?

Then yeah, you've found your movie.