The Ballad of Jack and Rose
On a threatened coastal commune, a terminally ill father’s attempt to prepare his isolated daughter for life without him fractures the possessive bond that has defined them.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- provocative
- intimate
- thoughtful film night
- indie drama evening
What critics said
Critics were sharply divided, with some praising the film as provocative and absorbing while others found its drama distracted and its central relationships unsympathetic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jack has raised Rose in isolation and introduces Kathleen and her sons without genuinely negotiating the change with her.
Jack and Rose live on a former 1968 commune and remain opposed to mainstream schooling, development, and social norms.
Rose is beginning to explore her sexuality while her father’s controlling household is being reshaped by new residents.
The sparsely populated island, wetlands, and threatened commune environment frame the family’s increasingly unstable private life.
Films like The Ballad of Jack and Rose, and why
The Squid and the Whale
intimate family drama centered on an emotionally intense parent-child bond and unconventional domestic life
American Beauty
provocative American independent drama about dysfunctional family relationships, sexuality, and self-destructive behavior
Beasts of the Southern Wild
naturalistic coastal setting, ecological concerns, and a fragile father-daughter relationship under pressure
The Glass Menagerie
emotionally raw coming-of-age drama involving parental instability, isolation, and difficult household dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- Rebecca Miller
- Release Date
- 2005-02-25
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (178)
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Camilla Belle
- Catherine Keener
- Ryan McDonald
- Paul Dano
- Jason Lee
- Jena Malone
- Beau Bridges
- Susanna Thompson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ballad of Jack and Rose about?
- On a threatened coastal commune, a terminally ill father’s attempt to prepare his isolated daughter for life without him fractures the possessive bond that has defined them.
- What is The Ballad of Jack and Rose like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ballad of Jack and Rose as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ballad of Jack and Rose violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Ballad of Jack and Rose as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Ballad of Jack and Rose?
- Critics were sharply divided, with some praising the film as provocative and absorbing while others found its drama distracted and its central relationships unsympathetic.
- Which films are like The Ballad of Jack and Rose?
- Films with a similar feel include The Squid and the Whale, American Beauty, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and The Glass Menagerie.
- How long is The Ballad of Jack and Rose?
- The Ballad of Jack and Rose runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ballad of Jack and Rose?
- In United States, The Ballad of Jack and Rose streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
