A Journey to the Edge of Life to the Rhythm of Country Music
Written by: Muhittin Çiftçi
The Excitement of Dreams, the Weight of Life
Wild Rose, directed by Tom Harper, is a striking melodrama that tells the story of how a dream nurtured by music is tested at a thorny price. Nicole Taylor's delicate screenplay masterfully juxtaposes the freedom and rebellious spirit of country music with the harsh realism of Glasgow.
The film blends the brilliance of the musical genre with the weight of social realism, creating a story that both exhilarates and unsettles the viewer.
The Heart of the Story: Rose-Lynn Harlan
At the centre is Rose-Lynn Harlan, a young mother recently released from prison. Brought to life by Jessie Buckley's extraordinary performance, Rose-Lynn dreams of going to Nashville with her rebellious spirit, velvety voice, and passionate love for country music.
But there is a huge wall in front of her:
The shadow of her responsibilities.
Two small children, the burden of unfinished mistakes, and the narrow space society has carved out for her...
The film makes this dual conflict – the line between dream and necessity – almost palpable.
The Line Where Realism and Romanticism Intersect
Nicole Taylor's screenplay deliberately avoids romanticising Rose-Lynn. The character stands before us with all her fragility, anger, irresponsibility, and inconsistency.
This draws the viewer into the dilemma of whether or not to believe in her dream.
Because the film is not just a story of ‘becoming a star’; it is the story of all people caught between the burdens of life and their dreams.
Some of the dialogue in the film encapsulates the weight of this predicament in a single sentence:
‘I'm actually a country singer born in the wrong country.’
‘When you have children, your dream should be their future, not yours.’
‘You dream of learning three chords and going to Nashville. That's not a dream, it's an escape.’
These words deepen the film's dramatic foundation while also revealing Rose-Lynn's inner conflict.
Jessie Buckley: The Beating Heart of the Film
Jessie Buckley doesn't just portray Rose-Lynn; she lives her.
Her anger, fragility, blind desire for freedom, and fierce love for her children achieve an extraordinary balance in Buckley's performance.
Her singing performances have an almost documentary-like sincerity.
This natural flow makes the film not just something to watch, but an experience to feel.
More Than a Melodrama
Wild Rose is a powerful production that addresses the tension between class differences, motherhood, the search for freedom, and personal desires on both a social and individual level.
The film's central question lingers in the viewer's mind:
‘Is chasing our dreams selfish, or is it something we owe ourselves?’
In the final scenes, the film focuses on a lesson far greater than whether to go to Nashville or not:
Dreaming is sometimes the most personal struggle to break the chains of the past.
Rose-Lynn's story is a portrait of hope sprouting in the most unexpected places, just like the wildest roses.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
