“Wild Rose” — Three Chords and the (Small) Truth

A small film about little people that will leave you smiling.

Every once in awhile someone makes a film that’s not about radioactive superpowers, royal court treachery, wars won or lost, civilizations destroyed, dying planets and monstrous profits. And every once in awhile a film like that gets distribution and people get to see it. “Wild Rose” is almost that.

Critics and audiences are raving about “Wild Rose”, but its R rating means you’re unlikely to see it at your neighborhood multiplex. We could debate the wisdom of a ratings system that allows tweens to see people shot, stabbed, crushed and blown up, but won’t let them see an adult smoking a joint, but that’s not going to put “Wild Rose” into any more American theaters — too bad because Americans, especially the ones who won’t have access to it would love this film. If you’re a countrified American and you can find it, ignore the rating, because this film is for and about people like you — real Americans and, as one of its characters says — people who should have been Americans.

“Wild Rose” is a small stakes film, a coming of age tale in 4/4 time and a major key, with characters that stumble and waver now and then, that leaves us uncertain to the final chord which will, unless your worldview is too dark to accept…