Berlin Film Festival's 'Rosebush Pruning' Review: Callum Turner Shines in Crude Farce
Karim Ainouz's macabre family comedy Rosebush Pruning made its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival this weekend, receiving a mixed reception from audiences and critics alike. The film, which spills a small ocean of bodily fluids including blood, semen, sweat, and tears, is a bizarre and arresting satire that ultimately falls short of its shocking and comedic ambitions.
A Dysfunctional Family in the Spanish Countryside
The story revolves around Edward, played by Callum Turner, a spoiled American rich kid living with his dysfunctional family in a villa in the Spanish countryside. Turner, who is strongly tipped as the next James Bond, brings delinquent swagger to the role, portraying a character who proudly admits to being lazy, mediocre, vapid, and egotistic. His all-consuming love of fashion contrasts sharply with his disdain for reading and writing.
The family includes his lesbian mother, played by Pamela Anderson, who has seemingly been eaten alive by wolves; his sister Anna, an aspiring punk guitarist portrayed by Riley Keough; and his brothers Robert and Jack, played by Lukas Gage and Jamie Bell, respectively. Robert suffers from frequent epileptic fits, while Jack is the most normal of the brood, albeit with his own quirks. Presiding over them all is their blind, lecherous father, played by Tracy Letts, a thoroughly repulsive figure with strange carnal appetites.
Inspired by Classics but Lacking Cohesion
Rosebush Pruning draws inspiration from Marco Bellocchio's Italian new wave classic, Fists in the Pocket (1965), which follows a disturbed young man plotting to kill off his family. The script is penned by Greek writer Efthimis Filippou, known for his work with Yorgos Lanthimos, and it carries some of the barbed, surrealist humor found in Lanthimos films like The Lobster and Kinds of Kindness. The film also echoes Mike White's The White Lotus in its assault on the filthy rich.
However, Ainouz's disdain for his characters makes it difficult for audiences to connect with them. Known for steamy melodramas like Madame Sata and Motel Destino, the Brazilian director struggles with the family farce genre, resulting in strange shifts in tone and pacing. The cast, including notable names, are not natural comic actors, and moments intended to be morbidly funny often fall flat.
Crude Elements and Visual Richness
The film's storytelling becomes surprisingly crude at times, such as in a late scene where Edward receives a dick pic from his best friend and potential lover, George. References to fashion designers like Donatella Versace, Bottega, and Balenciaga become increasingly grating, with characters sent into ecstasy over new shoes or brand names.
Thankfully, the visual palette is rich, with Ainouz capturing the beauty of Spanish landscapes, including verdant forests and rolling hills. Matthew Herbert's majestic musical score provides a lulling effect, distracting from the story's miasmatic themes. Some set-pieces work well, particularly a scene where Jack's girlfriend Martha, played by Elle Fanning, endures a hostile family meal, portrayed with wit and observation reminiscent of Edward Albee.
Callum Turner as the Saving Grace
Turner's performance anchors the film, lending it a hint of humanity amidst extreme grotesquerie. His character has traces of Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley, but Turner plays him with engaging understatement, remaining a likably mischievous presence despite the indignities and murderous schemes he endures. In a film filled with crude humor and dysfunctional dynamics, Turner is the only saving grace, showcasing his potential as a future star.
Dir: Karim Ainouz. Starring: Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage, Elena Anaya, Tracy Letts, Elle Fanning, Pamela Anderson. 97 mins. Rosebush Pruning will be released in UK and Ireland cinemas later this year.
