‘Alba Rosa’ Review – Grief’s Throes Unveil Humanity’s Beauty

Synopsis: ALBA ROSA is the story of Grace following the death of her husband Carter in a terrorist attack while on holiday aboard. The couple were due to sell and leave their large old generational home to retire and travel. Now Grace is alone she sinks into depression, pushing away her son, her slightly overbearing but well-meaning neighbour and her therapist. As Grace finally starts to progress through the five stages of grief, will she finally come to acceptance, reconcile with her son and leave the house behind?

What do you do when you’ve lost the love of your life? When you lose the person you spent your whole life looking for, the person you’ve invested in and built with, the one who knows you better than anyone. It’s one thing to lose them naturally, but to have them snatched away prematurely due to the evil of others is difficult to sit with. No matter how many movies you’ve seen, books you’ve read, or how much help you’ve received, nothing can prepare you for the heartache you will feel. No one can predict how long you will be reeling from the trauma and devastation nor can you assume the impact and time it will take to heal. Fortunately, it can get better, you can move on, and you can find love again if you want. However, on a more bleak note, some will never get over their loss and it will consume them entirely. This is exactly why we need each other. You don’t have to forget but you do have to forge on.

“I can’t sleep and I can’t bear to be awake.”

I’ve said it before and it remains true, life is a team sport and this film is a perfect example. Directed by Bogdan Radu in his directorial debut, Alba Rosa showcases how grief’s throes unveil humanity’s beauty. While it initially sounds somewhat odd to some, like the awe-inspiring lotus emerging from its unbelievably muddy and murky habitat, so can beautiful moments come from tragedy. Whether it comes by way of reconnecting with someone you fell out of favor with, remembering special moments that will live on, or finding hope through someone who made it through a similar experience, you’ll realize that the end of one thing doesn’t have to be the end of everything.

Attempting to push through one of life’s most difficult certainties, the loss of a loved one, a newly widowed Grace can’t move on. Stuck in a constant loop of debilitating terror, sleep feels like an impossible task, food is a burden, and everything around her reminds her of what was. Despite her newfound disdain for existence, there are those around her who care enough to attempt to usher her back into some semblance of normalcy. Knowing that getting over a loss is never easy, the persistence to help Grace as she traverses the treacherous five stages of grief lays out how good and noble we can be. Along with her work on herself, what unfolds is an intense experience that is not only genuine and heart-wrenching but also heartwarming. The film’s ability to relay and relate is only second to the feelings it evokes.

“It takes time to adapt to change.”

Delivering a powerful story with a small cast can be daunting, but that’s exactly what Alba Rosa successfully does. The moments of silent frustration and motionless suffering convey more than words ever could. Not to mention, we’re also granted perspective from someone who is affected by both the loss and Grace’s antisocial behavior. Moreover, the film reminds us that emotion is natural. It reminds us of our interconnectedness to one another. We live in a world where having a human moment outside of being happy or angry seems socially unacceptable. It results in us alienating one another and becoming a disjointed and unfurling society. This engagingly somber story is a subtle nudge into remembering how similar we all are. While it’s a complex spectrum, we all feel, we all suffer, and we all need more than just ourselves. And more than anything, no matter how dark and deep the hole is, you can make it out. You just may need some help.

The cinematography is intimate, the tone is heavy like a weighted blanket with a haunting score to match, and Nicola Wright’s performance brings it all together. With great writing and direction, this film stays with you. If you’re looking to get your sad and comfy on, Alba Rosa will satiate that fix. Its rewatchability is medium.

Pace & Pop

Alba Rosa is a film whose pace disappears from your mind as you are engulfed by grief. But if it’s something that eats at you, the pacing is perfect. With a runtime of just over sixty minutes, the film lets none go to waste. As every scene is filled with meaningful imagery and dialogue, nothing is unnecessarily tossed in resulting in an extremely well-packaged product. What popped for me was how relatable the story is. If you haven’t experienced what Grace goes through, you know someone who has.

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Nicola Wright, Charlie Clee, Keith Hill

Nicola Wright delivers a beautifully heart-wrenching performance. Her chemistry with Charlie Clee and Keith Hill makes for wonderful pairings as they simultaneously tell three stories that are also one. From helpful and cheery to confused and angry, the emotions form together like a cyclone resulting in the beauty of humanity.

Alba Rosa is currently playing in cinemas in London, England. Stay safe and don’t give up on your loved ones.

Runtime: 1h 8m Director: Bogdan Radu Producer: Jeffrey Louis Salkilld Score: Dimitris Makridis