The first flowers to grace the credits of this soft French comedy are white roses in full bloom. Their petals are immaculate and their milky hue appears luminescent, a reminder that what appears white is a reflection of all colors. Gardeners know that growing a perfect rose isn’t easy, and that principle will become the cornerstone of the plot in “The Rose Maker.” The film shows its cinematic devotion with the perfection of these first roses – their almost shocking vibrancy complemented by a jovial Dean Martin tune. It’s easy for characters to say they grow such a flower, and quite an achievement for filmmakers to find one to display on screen.
Narrative, these unparalleled flowers belong to Eve (Catherine Frot), a rose grower who inherited her family’s prestigious farm. But despite Eve’s care for the boutique, industrial farms sell more roses and win more prizes, while Eve struggles to keep her small business afloat. Eve is prone to pessimism, but her loyal secretary, Véra (Olivia Côte), hires three pairs of helping hands to revive the farm. At first Eve protests, but she soon bonds with her amateur, even ill-advised, employees, enlisting them first in a heist to capture a rare rose, then in the delicate attempts to grow fields descended from this stolen blossom.
Director Pierre Pinaud makes no effort to laugh, nor does he insist on tears when it comes to forging the cross-class bonds between his characters. It’s a relaxed film, one where the audience can sit back and, if not smell the roses, at least appreciate them. Just as they are to Eve, the flowers are the raison d’être of this film—a reminder that glimpses of beauty are reason enough.
The Rosemaker
Not judged. In French, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. In theatres.