Coming Up Roses

Coming Up Roses is an introspective indie film from 2011 that features the versatile and captivating talents of Bernadette Peters, Rachel Brosnahan, and Peter Friedman. Helmed by director Lisa Albright, the film is a riveting, introspective exploration of the lengths people go to protect their families and preserve a semblance of normalcy in times of crisis. Using the backdrop of the 1980's economic downturn, Coming Up Roses tells an intimate story of a mother and a daughter navigating their struggle filled lives with resilience and tenacity.

The film presents a deep-seated exploration of the economic anxieties of the time, personalised through the struggles and dynamics of the main characters. The plot revolves around the lives of Diane (Bernadette Peters), an eccentric former actress, and her teenage daughter, Alice (Rachel Brosnahan).

Bernadette Peters, with her vast range as an actress, delivers a standout performance as Diane. Her character is a flamboyant and flamboyantly-dressed woman with an actress's flair for drama, balancing between whimsy and solemnity. This attribute is put to the test by the severe economic crisis that threatens her home and her way of life, ultimately forcing her to make desperate decisions to make ends meet. Pinned in a corner, Diane plunges back into her old habits, pulling her daughter into her precarious world of make-believe.

Rachel Brosnahan, as the pragmatic Alice, serves as the foil to her mother's eccentricities. She is the one who bears the brunt of the consequences from her mother's actions, developing an aged wisdom and maturity beyond her actual age. Brosnahan, known for her later work in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" on Amazon Prime, shines as a responsible teen grappling with maintaining her own life while dealing with her mother's instability.

Peter Friedman, appearing as a supporting character, adds another layer to the story, his character resonating with the viewers not only for the subtlety in his performance but for the emotional depth he brings to the role.

Director Lisa Albright deftly taps into the economic despair of the 1980's, rendering a bleak, hard-edged aesthetic throughout the film. The cinematography is commendable, effectively capturing the gray undertones that pervade the story. The film's period decor and wardrobe distinctively and authentically hark back to the 1980's, making the viewers feel as if they are part of that era.

At its core however, Coming Up Roses is more than a piece of social realism. It is a study of mother-daughter relationships and familial bonds. It investigates how those relationships can be strained and tested by external hardships, while also showcasing the resilience and strength that emerge out of adversity.

However, viewers should be reminded that Coming Up Roses does not simply provide a narrative of struggle. It also manages to weave in moments of joy and connection, using the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship as a conduit to deliver occasional levity and warmth. Throughout the film, Alice and Diane's relationship grow and sway, tension and reconciliation interspersed with moments of mundane bliss, that serve as reminders that even in times of struggle, life has a way of delivering moments of beauty.

Besides the remarkable performances by Peters and Brosnahan, the beautifully drawn characters, and the period-perfect mise-en-scène, the movie also possesses a sublime soundtrack that captivates and resonates with the mood transitions in the storyline.

Albright's Coming Up Roses is a thought-provoking movie that is powerfully relevant, resonating with the economic anxieties and familial dynamics of the current times as well. With its raw performances and intriguing plot, the movie grips the viewers, drawing them into a world of love, struggle, desperation, and resilience. The narrative remains profound and engaging, offering not only a story but a subtle critique of society and the strength of familial bonds in the face of adversity, making the view worthwhile.