Miss Rose White

Tear-jerker extraordinaire. Well-acted, dramatic, satisfying. Even this cynic needed some hankies. Recommended.

Anyone who has a relatively recent immigrant background, or 2nd generation like myself, would probably relate to the characters in this film, especially 'Rose'. I saw it years ago and have never forgotten how deeply I felt for all the characters. It's a simple story, but the complexity comes as ghosts from the past turn up and each of the 3 main characters move through unresolved emotions and memories. Kyra, Amanda and Maximilian are amazingly convincing. You know when you watch modern tellings of periods past, and it's just not right, from the makeup, hair, the mannerisms, the dialog, the attitudes. It just doesn't convince and spoils the authenticity. They got this just right. Max and Amanda are standout performers here, even though I knew the accents weren't as authentic, it really didn't matter as much as how deeply they both inhabit their characters. I couldn't see anyone else acting in their roles.

One thing I really appreciated was they didn't sugar coat the darkness of war, genocide, murder. Something tells me, if they made this film today, they would have tried to whitewash or over sentimentalise so it would become bland, insipid and more 'commercial'. I don't know what's happened in the last 20+ years since they made this film, but it really does seem like film makers are taking less chances and going for quantity over quality. But that my rant over.

If you get the chance to see (tip: I found it on YT), please do. I've given it a 9, as I thought they could make it bit longer to tell Davids story, the film somewhat finished before we got to know anything about him.

NOTE to IMDB: The film description is wrong, it says 'Italian' but it's about a Jewish family.

It's really cool when you find a hidden jem, and Miss Rose White is definitely one of them. There are too few good character dramas released, but with this film we have an intelligent, moving, and very well acted addition to the genre.

Set in the 1940's it's the tale of the relationship between two Polish Jewish sisters. Kyra Sedgwick is a career woman was taken to America by her father as a girl and has done her best to hide her roots (going so far as to change her jewish name). The other sister played by Amanda Plummer stayed in Poland with her mother awaiting their father to send the money so they to could come to America. Before he can however she and her mother were interned by the Nazi's in a concentration camp during WW2. The mother dies there. After Plummer is released she comes to America and reminds Sedgwick of the past she tried to forget. Both sisters have serious issues with their father to sort out too.

All the characters in this film are very well rounded and imperfect. It is really a story about a disfunctional family. The acting is very impressive. Sedgwick shines and gives a perfectly natural performance, she is totally believable. Throughout the film I kept asking myself why she isn't a bigger star? Plummer is excellent, especially when dealing with the relationship with her father. Maximilian Schell too is superb as the father.

I congratulate the writer, director, cast and everyone else involved with making this picture. Whatever recognition you got, wasn't enough.

9/10

It was an emotional piece of genre and I enjoyed watching it. And will again in the next week or two.

This Hallmark Hall of Fame production stars a captivating Kyra Sedgwick as the title character. Rose White is a Jewish woman who changes her name to appear far removed from her Polish heritage. She longs to climb the ladder of success in the large department store where she works. Visits to her Jewish father and other relatives are only on the Sabbath, across town. Years ago, her mother and sister had to remain in Poland and were subsequently sent to concentration camps. Good news arrives. The sister is alive and, at last, coming to America. When she (Amanda Plummer) enters the country, she is much changed. Rose is forced to share her apartment with a virtual stranger. Alas, the guilt each sister feels contributes to a difficult acceptance on each of their parts. Slowly, they warm to each other. Can all end well? Miss Sedgwick is at her most glamorous and delivers a fine performance. Miss Plummer brings a touching complexity to her role as the long-suffering sister. In a minor role, D.B.Sweeney appears as a love interest for Rose. Viewers will enjoy the chance to visit New York in the forties but, will be moved by the many trials and tribulations of the film's main characters. One of Hallmark's better films, Miss Rose White conveys a feeling of authenticity that fascinates while remaining intelligent, moving entertainment.