Wild Rose, perhaps unfairly, is being labelled "this year's A Star Is Born" but is unlikely to receive the same level of attention that story's latest remake managed at the end of 2018. There is no world-famous pop superstar in her first feature-length lead performance, no A-List actor making his directorial debut and no Shallow-scale set piece lighting the radio on fire. But what Tom Harper's feature lacks in scale, it makes up for plenty of heart and soul, and it is that passion that turns country-inspired Wild Rose into one of the year's finest releases to date.
Rose-Lynn Harlan's (Jessie Buckley) stint in prison has not affected her dream to become a country singer, with her heart set on making it to Nashville: the home of country music. With two children before the age of 18, Rose-Lynn attempts to balance responsibility and freedom have seen largely negative results, leading to an absence from her children's lives and a strained relationship with her mother, Marion (Julie Walters). Wild Rose tells a stirring tale of dreams and obligation, privilege and opportunity with such authenticity that it feels even closer than three chords from the truth.
If Wild Rose's formula seems familiar, the storytelling and scriptwriting are smart enough to subvert any preconceived expectations. The territory explored in Nicole Taylor's script - dreams versus reality - may be recognisable, but it is delivered through a refreshing new angle; with additional consideration of class and opportunity intertwined throughout the character's journey and backstory, there's more substance than it may be given credit for. Taylor's feature-length debut crafts believable relationships with complexity, compelling in their development and unflinching in their honesty. With sharp dialogue that communicates numerous layers to the mother-daughter relationship at the film's heart - including the often-referenced line about mince that will break your heart as intently as it makes it soar - there is such depth to everything Wild Rose attempts.
Tom Harper's direction is a solid feat, bringing intimacy to the heartfelt moments and visceral energy to the music-based sequences. Harper understands when to step back and give the characters the space to breathe, crafting an area where Rose and Marion's relationship, in particular, can develop in a wholly believable manner. That mother-daughter relationship is one of the most fascinating elements of the film, enriching the film's conversation about home, family and roots to profound effect. Although it's a more thematically and emotionally strenuous experience than perhaps expected, Wild Rose still provides raucous entertainment and many laughs though, with the film's opening scene (set to 'Country Girl') and a country throwdown of sorts (scored by 'Outlaw State of Mind') offering a shot of adrenaline in two of the most enjoyable sequences.
Wild Rose is one of those films, however, that rests almost entirely on its cast. Thankfully, Jessie Buckley is pure dynamite: the air appears to crackle around her, electrified by her clear energy and passion. In both the acting and vocal department, she impresses, tempering the various internal frustrations of Rose-Lynn with the nonchalant approach she has to the dream she has firmly set her heart on. She's a flawed individual but you want her to thrive; you actively root for her, and that's down to the strength of a lead role. To paraphrase a lyric in the soundtrack's closing number, Buckley is stronger than stone: her career is already firmly on the yellow brick road.
While it is undoubtedly Buckley's name in lights, Julie Walters is on hand to provide reliably-impressive support. Convincing writing and a believable accent definitely help, but Walters is such a compelling presence in any film, and as Marion, you can read her bitterness and regret in the smallest of mannerisms or expressions. It's evident that she wants the best for Rose-Lynn but her hesitations are well-explored, with Walters punctuating this reluctance fantastically throughout. That relationship (and the well-paired performances that bring it to life) contribute to the exceptional way in which Wild Rose presents both sides of a situation without judgement, allowing you to clearly see the mindsets of the various characters, neither of whom are right (or necessarily wrong).
Admittedly, before Wild Rose, country music is a genre I had quickly disregarded. It is a testament, then, to the soundtrack - and Buckley's performances that ooze with emotion and belief - that it has not come off repeat. By the time Wild Rose reaches its splendid finale - two songs, including an original piece written specifically for the film, that perfectly encapsulates the message at the film's core - you have fallen hook, line and sinker for it. It could have so easily been tempted to wrap up with a more conventionally happy ending - but it understands its character far too well to resort to that, landing on a stirring conclusion in-keeping with the script's focus on the honour of home. Buckley's extraordinary lead performance could carry any film, but Wild Rose benefits tremendously from the vigour and enthusiasm displayed and you'll be singing long after the credits have rolled. Go see this film!
9/10
Summary: With Wild Rose, a star is truly born in Jessie Buckley, who delivers an electrifying performance in a film whose exploration of dreams, class and opportunity smartly subverts the expectations of the story it tells to heartfelt, uplifting effect.