Rosetta (1999)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Luc Dardenne

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne (writer)
Luc Dardenne (writer)

Release Date:

22 September 1999 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Young and impulsive Rosetta lives with her alcoholic mother and, moved by despair, she will do anything to maintain a job.

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholic Mother | Job | Fired | Friendship | Betrayal

Awards:

8 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Émilie Dequenne	...	Rosetta
Fabrizio Rongione	...	Riquet
Anne Yernaux	...	The Mother
Olivier Gourmet	...	The Boss
Bernard Marbaix	...	The Campgrounds Manager
Frédéric Bodson	...	The Head of Personnel
Florian Delain	...	The Boss's Son
Christiane Dorval	...	First Saleswoman
Mireille Bailly	...	Second Saleswoman
Thomas Gollas	...	The Mother's Boyfriend
Leon Michaux	...	First Policeman (as Léon Michaux)
Victor Marit	...	Second Policeman
Colette Regibeau	...	Madame Riga
Claire Tefnin	...	Girl in Locker Room
Sophie Leboutte	...	Fired Woman

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

95 min | Colombia:92 min

Country:

France | Belgium

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | France:U | Germany:12 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Company:

ARP Sélection

Quotes:

Rosetta: Your name is Rosetta. My name is Rosetta. You found a job. I found a job. You've got a friend. I've got a friend. You have a normal life. I have a normal life. You won't fall in a rut. I won't fall in a rut. Good night. Good night.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#20.3)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Something New

Does Rosetta Find a Way Out?

The test of some performances is how much empathy you feel for an exasperating character you would normally not care for. The actress Emilie Dequenne, especially in the final scene of "Rosetta," really makes you glimpse why desperation drives some people to do the things they do -- although you may not totally understand. All the disgust and anger you feel toward her evaporates when you glimpse the soul of the character through her face.

She does not know how to lift herself out of her circumstances. Does she grow as a person or remain trapped like an animal? You hope that her decision to leave the prize was made out of remorse for the betrayal of a friend. After the sudden ending, you pray she gets a new attitude and finds a way out.

But I don't think she will. The character is caught like a bird flapping around a cage and can't get out of the film's stoic vision.