The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)

A father and daughter isolated on an island off the East Coast and living on a once thriving commune grapple with the limits of family and sexuality.

Director:

Rebecca Miller

Writer:

Rebecca Miller

Stars:

Camilla Belle, Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Camilla Belle	...	Rose Slavin
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Jack Slavin
Catherine Keener	...	Kathleen
Ryan Mcdonald	...	Rodney
Paul Dano	...	Thaddius
Jason Lee	...	Gray
Jena Malone	...	Red Berry
Beau Bridges	...	Marty Rance
Susanna Thompson	...	Miriam Rance

Storyline

Jack lives on the site of his abandoned island commune with his 16-year-old daughter Rose. Jack has sheltered Rose from the influences of the outside world, but now Rose's emerging womanhood poses troubling questions about the days ahead. A man who has lived a life motivated by environmentalism and other altruistic causes, Jack now rages at those who do not share his concerns, like developer Marty Rance, who is building a housing tract on the edge of his property. When Jack invites his girlfriend Kathleen and her sons Rodney and Thaddius to live with them, Rose feels betrayed and the situation quickly becomes precarious. Rose acts out wildly, creating chaos. As everything flies out of control, Jack finds himself trapped in an impossible place and is forced to take action.

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Plot Keywords:

island | commune | environmentalism | immaturity | mother daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and some drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Elevation Filmworks IFC Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 2005 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Rose and the Snake

Filming Locations:

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$59,459 (USA) (25 March 2005)

Gross:

$712,294 (USA) (17 June 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Productions, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Elevation Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although this movie takes place in the United States, when jack and rose go to the main land a Canadian Tire store is visible from their car.

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Quotes

Gray: I wouldn't be able to do that.
Jack Slavin: If you don't like your situation, then change it. If you can't change it, then leave it. It's your fucking life, man.
Gray: I appreciate it.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to the people of Souris, Eastern Kings and Charlottetown, P.E.I..

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Connections

Referenced in Charlie Rose: Episode dated 22 March 2005 (2005)

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Soundtracks

"One More Cup of Coffee"
(1975)
Written and Performed by Bob Dylan
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

A marvelous piece of acting

My pick for male Oscar winner so far this year is Daniel Day-Lewis as an eccentric father of a precocious girl in The Ballad of Jack and Rose.

I don't think the bard suggested incest on the menu for Prospero and Miranda, but in this ballad dad and daughter alone on a remote peninsula off the East coast are not fighting just real estate developers and dad's lovers, they are dealing with incestuous feelings so subtly relayed that even our delicately Christian president might not be offended.

I have five beautiful daughters in the healthiest of relationships, but that a man alone with a bright, loving, free-spirited daughter could go to the dark side is the genius of this parable about the difficulties of living outside societal norms, which sometimes are fortunately restrictive of baser instincts.

Day-Lewis's conflicted protagonist is a marvelous piece of acting, the best of his career, and the most interesting this year.