I've quite literally been sat here for too long now staring at a blank screen and trying to force out the few words that can eloquently and succinctly describe the thoughts rushing through my head after watching Kemal Yildirim's, Rose.
They are words which are refusing to leave the dark man cave that is my mind.
Rose was such an incredibly gritty and moving piece of cinema that I truly don't quite know how to express myself properly. I don't think I quite have the ability.
But I shall give it a go.
Rose is possibly the most difficult film I've ever had to watch. It is dark, really very dark, it's full violence, injustice but above all pain, raw, visceral pain, and at more than a few points that pain hit home with a hammer blow to heart and the mind.
Rose (Helen Clifford) is a drug addicted prostitute who endures the savagery of the world and must fight against violence and oppression to claim back her own life. Her journey is harrowing and frightening to watch, made all the more so by the fact that it is all based upon a true story. Based upon the real horror and pain that a real person, not just some fictional manifestation of a cinematic idea, but a real, living, breathing person was forced to suffer, that is the quality that really made this an at times intolerable journey to witness.
Such a strong story though is still only as good as the director and his cast. And both factors work perfectly to support the harrowing tale. Yildirim is essential perfection in the directing chair. His calm, ordered approach to exploring Rose's pain ensures the tension builds up gradually, never abating but never climaxing too soon, keeping the audience gripped to the screen and wishing they could just get up and see the sunshine and escape the pain on their TV, but being unable to miss a single second of the film.
I can't say that you'll enjoy this film, it is a difficult watch, but it is incredibly powerful and unbelievably poignant and its message must be heard, and it must be listened to.
This is a real story, not an emotional fluff piece of cinema, this is carnal and it is dirty and in its own way it is incredibly beautiful.
