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:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener, Camilla Belle

3 wins & 6 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

1986. Jack Slavin, an engineer by trade, and his mid-teen daughter Rose Slavin live in virtual isolation on what was once a commune that Jack and a group of others built in 1968 on sparsely populated Marsh Island off the U.S. east coast. Rose's mother abandoned them when Rose was five. Jack has passed to Rose a sense of ecological preservation, placing them at odds with Marty Rance, who is building a housing complex on the island on a wetlands. They are able to live this life on the commune property in their ecological bliss due to a sizable inheritance, Jack who will occasionally take out his checkbook in order to solve whatever problem he may be facing. Jack also took Rose out of school when she was eleven as he didn't believe in what the traditional school system was teaching. Their quiet life together is threatened by the fact that Jack has a heart condition which will probably kill him sooner than later. Wanting to ensure that Rose is taken care of after his passing, Jack makes ...

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Plot Keywords:

commune | environmentalism | obese | wetland | virginity | 

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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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rose and the Snake

Filming Locations:

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$59,459, 27 March 2005

Gross USA:

$712,275

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$916,051

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During filming Daniel Day-Lewis arranged to live separately from his wife to achieve the "isolation" needed to focus on his own character's reality.

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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

Thaddius: Does your dad know about this place?
Rose Slavin: Maybe.
Thaddius: Does he know everything about you?

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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

Promise Me
(2005)
Sung by Courtney Saunders
Written by Michael Rohatyn & Rebecca Miller (uncredited)
Published by Pluckadillo Music

User Reviews

Daniel Day Lewis makes this all worthwhile

Even though I didn't entirely believe him in this role, he's such an outstanding actor that it held my attention.

This film is clearly an 'indy' film, and has many wonderful qualities. The photography, some of the acting, the scenery. Unfortunately, the script I found cloying and weak and entirely unbelievable, it sidestepped the creepy incestuous moments that it evoked, and felt a little like watching a scene from a writers workshop at times.

That being said- Daniel Day Lewis. He makes it all worthwhile.

It's worth a rent, and I do look forward to whatever Ms. Miller does next, and I hope she has a long career. It's wonderful to find a woman filmmaker who is willing to explore difficult themes, I just wish this film had been better.