Rosebush Pruning Review: A Clumsy Satire of Wealthy Dysfunction
Since the success of shows like Succession and films such as Saltburn, wealthy, spoiled, and dysfunctional siblings have become a cultural fascination. Now, Rosebush Pruning enters the fray, directed by Karim Aïnouz and written by Greek screenwriter Efthimis Filippou, known for collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos. This film is a weird-wave contrivance that remakes Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 classic Fists in the Pocket, focusing on a messed-up US plutocrat clan living in Spain.
Plot and Characters
The story revolves around a strange extended family residing in a luxurious modernist house. The father, played by Tracy Letts, is a blind widower haunted by memories of his late wife, portrayed by Pamela Anderson, who was savaged by wolves in a nearby forest. His adult children, infantilised by wealth, all live with him:
- Robert (Lukas Gage) is highly strung and has epilepsy, tasked with supervising his father’s horse riding.
- Anna (Riley Keough) is a talentless singer-songwriter with musical aspirations.
- Ed (Callum Turner) is a would-be fashionista with vague ambitions.
First among equals is Jack (Jamie Bell), who holds the intimate honour of assisting his father with nightly teeth-cleaning—a ritual tied to their mother’s dazzlingly white teeth. Jack plans to move out with his girlfriend Martha (Elle Fanning), a gifted classical guitarist, which infuriates the family and sparks tension, especially with Anna.
Satirical Elements and Critiques
The film delves into bizarre and cartoony secrets involving sex abuse, manipulation, and self-harm, aiming to satirise capitalism and the patriarchy. It suggests that the rich, no matter how entrepreneurial, create a next-generation class of useless drones. However, the execution often feels heavy-handed and clumsy. The satire comes across as pedantic and overworked, with dramatic effects that feel unearned, leading to a sense of pointlessness.
Notable scenes include the father’s mischievous questioning of Anna about Martha’s "bosom" during a family lunch, and Ed’s fabrication of Jack’s voice to fake his presence for paternal rituals. Anna’s whimsical crush on a butcher and the family’s ritual of placing a dead lamb near a cross where their mother died add to the oddity. The film’s one amusing revelation comes when everyone follows Jack on mysterious excursions.
Performances and Visual Style
Despite its flaws, Rosebush Pruning boasts strong performances from Jamie Bell and Elle Fanning, who bring depth to their roles. The film also has a certain visual style, with its modernist setting and atmospheric shots, but it struggles to maintain engagement. It assumes that the audience will find these characters seductive and entertaining, but in reality, they often come off as tedious and unrelatable.
Overall, this film screened at the Berlin film festival but fails to captivate, offering little beyond its starry cast and aesthetic appeal. For fans of drama and satire, it might provide a curious watch, but it ultimately falls short of its ambitious goals.
