If you every have the chance to go to a mystery screening, I would totally recommend it. It is the perfect chance to watch something that you would normally pass over. And while you may not always happy with the chosen film, sometimes you are introduced to an absolute gem. For me, Wild Rose was one of those surprising gems.

Wild Rose tells the story of Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley), a young and troubled single mother from Glasgow who dreams of travelling to Nashville and becoming a Country music star. Now whilst the themes and overall story-arc of the film are far from original, this film has an effervescent energy and charming wit that sets it apart from similar movies.

In terms of recent films, I would liken it somewhat to A Star is Born but given a choice between the two, I would pick Wild Rose every time. Bold statement, I know.

I have to stress that if Country music is not your ‘thing’, don’t worry!! The idea of a film about Country music was definitely not something I would ever have considered a must-see but maybe that’s why I enjoyed this film so much. The music was almost a character of its own and I found my toes tapping throughout the entire 1hr 40 minute runtime. I’ll also let you in on a little secret… for the last two days, since watching this film, I have been listening to Country music playlists on YouTube and am now, somewhat of a convert!

Films about wannabe popstars/actors/celebrities are not exactly new ground but what sets this film apart is the Glaswegian backdrop. Gone is the Hollywood polish, instead we are given an honest movie full of brusque Scottish charm, working-class heart and f*cks aplenty. Think a mix of A Star is Born, Trainspotting and The Full Monty with a dash of Dolly Parton for good measure. My only issue is that at times the accents were so strong, I struggled to understand what was being said!!

Having a relatively small cast means that there is very little room to hide but that was not a concern for this film. As the titular character, Jessie Buckley gives an absolutely stellar performance which is only heightened by the relationship with her mother, brilliantly portrayed by Julie Walters.

There is also something quite refreshing about Wild Rose, in that there is very little romantic love. Instead, it is a story about self-discovery, family and female relationships. Something that is very with the times but without shouting about it from the rooftops.

Unfortunately, I feel as though this film will have very limited coverage at the cinemas but if it is showing somewhere near you, then absolutely make the time to go and see it. I would love to know whether you enjoy it as much as I did.

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