Rambling Rose

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Rambling Rose

R,

1991,

1h 55m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

100%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

During the Great Depression, a Southern family hires the domestic services of Rose (Laura Dern), a damaged woman who hopes to avoid prostitution as a way of life. While in the employ of the household, Rose begins to develop feelings for the father of the family (Robert Duvall), who must continually rebuff her unwanted sexual advances. Meanwhile, Rose also develops a relationship with the 13-year-old son, Buddy (Lukas Haas). Eventually the father begins to reach the limits of his tolerance.

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Critics Consensus

A touching. bittersweet, and wonderfully-acted film.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 7, 2018

The intimate rhythms these two superb actors work up together capture a lifetime of marriage. Duvall and Ladd are the true heart and soul of Rambling Rose.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

May 12, 2001

It's a beauty.

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Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Jan 1, 2000

[A] funny, moving, spectacularly acted little film.

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Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

Mar 28, 2024

A much tougher movie than it might first appear from the gauzy, nostalgic trappings, dealing frankly with matters of sexual abuse and the means by which society empowers frightened men to inflict their wills upon women they find intimidating.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jan 4, 2023

A film of incongruous luminosity and sweetness. [Full review in Spanish]

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Oct 31, 2006

B

Seen in a flashback through the eyes of an adolescent, this uncommon coming-of-age tale, which raises poignant questions about the mysteries of sex and love, flaunts a superb performance from Laura Dern as the promiscuous girl

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Han P

Apr 9, 2019

Dern is great. However, the movie attempts to be a straightforward character study but that is undermined by it's consistent tone problems.

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Feb 2, 2019

The best movie ever made!

Leia W

Sep 20, 2018

Basking in Southern nostalgia, Martha Coolidge's adaptation of Calder Willingham's novel about a naïf domestic help whose promiscuity unbosoms her deep-seated sense of of insecurity and unlovability is a mellowly bittersweet story of sexual innocence and debonair springtime inevitably withered.

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George M

Sep 5, 2017

Rambling Rose certainly has its individual moments. Rose unintentionally corrupting the two Hillyer men. Dern and Duvall's stellar performances. The point it makes about men controlling women. Unfortunately, Rose is an incredibly vexing character, and not is the way the movie intends. Are we supposed to be sad for her? Love her? The movie seems to want that, but I don't. Ultimately, it's a boring, sappy and pointless period drama.

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Martha Coolidge

Director

Laura Dern

Rose

Robert Duvall

Daddy

Diane Ladd

Mother

Lukas Haas

Buddy

John Heard

Willcox Hillyer

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Synopsis

During the Great Depression, a Southern family hires the domestic services of Rose (Laura Dern), a damaged woman who hopes to avoid prostitution as a way of life. While in the employ of the household, Rose begins to develop feelings for the father of the family (Robert Duvall), who must continually rebuff her unwanted sexual advances. Meanwhile, Rose also develops a relationship with the 13-year-old son, Buddy (Lukas Haas). Eventually the father begins to reach the limits of his tolerance.

Director: Martha Coolidge
Producer: Renny Harlin
Distributor: Pioneer Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment, New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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