Rosemead, which screened at the Bentonville Film Festival, is a film that stays with you long after the screen goes dark.
Lucy Liu is invincible in this role. She doesn’t simply play the character, she becomes her. The brilliance of the film is striking and beautiful, even as the story itself is undeniably brutal. What makes Rosemead so compelling is the way it reveals the love that exists within deeply complex relationships.
Based on a true story of a mother and son, the struggles leap from the screen as the narrative unfolds. At several moments, I had to step away to breathe, to release some of the emotions the film stirred in me. Rosemead is both powerful and poetic, and yes, it is also painful.
The subject matter is packed with life’s toughest realities: death, mental illness, and the trials and tribulations families face when love and survival collide. If you’re feeling vulnerable or emotionally delicate, this may not be the right film for you. But in the right frame of mind, Rosemead may open your eyes to the profound love that exists within all humans even those experiencing extreme unwellness.
The Bentonville Film Festival continues to provide opportunities to see films like this stories that go on to reach big screens across the world. What began in a town without a movie theater has grown into one of the most beloved film festivals for moviegoers everywhere.
Grab your tickets to BFF now and be ready to feel something real.
