Rosetta (1999)

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

Directors:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Stars:

Émilie Dequenne, Fabrizio Rongione, Anne Yernaux

9 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Sophia Leboutte	...	Fired Woman

Storyline

The first scene, like almost all others, is a fighting scene. A girl, about 18, is sacked from her factory work because her trial period is over. The girl, Rosetta, is quite upset and the cops will have to arrive to get her out. She has her reasons: she lives in a caravan, with her alcoholic mother. She goes looking for work as some go to the war. Treasons, murders are in her mind, if not in her acts.

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Plot Keywords:

teenage girl | selfishness | fishing | attempted suicide | character name as title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Wolfsheim: Kein Zurück (2003)

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Soundtracks

Something New

User Reviews

Loneliness of one who longs to belong.

I found this film quite effecting without ever straying into crass sentimentality. Rosetta is a young girl who is full of anger and yearning. She lives with a dysfunctional alcoholic mother in a caravan park. Little is given about her past but we can understand that due to her upbringing she has limited options available to her. Her desire to be find a job (any job) is both desperate and touching. For Rosetta the prospect of a job, even a job that many in middle class society (indeed the average art house cinema goer!) might regard as mundane and without prospects, represents to her a chance to escape the existence on the outskirts of society. Her drive however raises her above the mere status of victim, and it is a credit to the lead that she conveys so much of this, without it having to be spelt out.

One thing I did find a little disconcerting was the wobbly camera technique, don't see if you are feeling a little nauseous as I was however this is only a minor criticism. Its around 90 minutes and I think well worth the investment if you like a good character based movie.

Details

Official Sites:

fsk Kino & Peripher Filmverleih GmbH (distributor) (german) [Germany]

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 September 1999 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Rosetta

Filming Locations:

Liège, Wallonia, Belgium

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,187, 7 November 1999

Gross USA:

$266,665

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$293,092

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARP Sélection, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1