Yellow Rose (2019 film)

Yellow Rose
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDiane Paragas
Written by
  • Diane Paragas
  • Annie Howell
  • Celena Cipriaso
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAugust Thurmer
Edited byIron Reiter
Taylor Levy
Music byChristopher Hoyt Knight
Production
companies
Stage 6 Films
ABS-CBN Global
Cinematografo Originals
Home Away Productions
Civilian Studios
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing (United States)
Star Cinema (Philippines)
Release dates
Running time
94 minutes[1]
CountriesUnited States
Philippines
LanguagesEnglish
Filipino
Box office$367,849[2]

Yellow Rose is a 2019 American-Filipino musical drama film co-written and directed by Diane Paragas. It is produced by Cecilia R. Mejia, Diane Paragas, Rey Cuerdo, Orian Williams, and Jeremiah Abraham. The film stars Eva Noblezada, Dale Watson, Princess Punzalan, and Lea Salonga. The plot follows Rose, a Filipina undocumented immigrant, who dreams of leaving her small town in Texas to pursue her country music dreams. Her plan is put on hold when her mother is taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Rose is forced to flee to Austin, Texas.[3]

The film premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on May 2, 2019 and received positive reviews. Stage 6 Films acquired the film and released it on October 9, 2020.[4]

Cast

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Production

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In May 2019, it was announced that the film would premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) on May 2, 2019. Director and screenplay writer Diane Paragas told reporters that the film has been in the works since 2004. It was also announced that Paragas would sing on the soundtrack as well as Eva Noblezada, Lea Salonga, and Dale Watson.[5]

Principal photography began in Austin, Texas and Manila, Philippines on August 17, 2018. Filming wrapped in January 2019.

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack of the film was released by Sony Music Masterworks on October 9, 2020.[6][7]

All tracks are written by Christopher Hoyt Knight except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Square Peg"Dale Watson, Thia Megia, Diane ParagasEva Noblezada4:05
2."Life Out on the Road"WatsonWatson2:00
3."Dahil Sa Iyo"Mike Velarde, Jr.Lea Salonga2:01
4."Circumstance"WatsonNoblezada; Watson1:21
5."Quietly Into the Night"ParagasNoblezada; Watson1:59
6."I Ain't Going Down"WatsonNoblezada; Watson2:13
7."Yellow Rose"WatsonWatson1:42
8."Are You Priscilla Garcia" Knight2:16
9."Running Through Hayfield" Knight2:26
10."We Could Have Used Your Help" Knight1:19
11."N35" Knight1:04
12."Leaving Tita Gail's" Knight1:37
13."Rose and Elliot" Knight1:00
14."Rose Leaves Broken Spoke" Knight1:02
15."They Take Everything Away" Knight1:16
16."This is Home For Me" Knight2:28
17."Yellow Rose (Instrumental)"WatsonWatson1:43
Total length:32:00

Release

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Yellow Rose premiered at the LAAPFF on May 2, 2019. It was screened at several other film festivals internationally. It won thirteen film festival awards, particularly praising Paragas' directing and Noblezada and Salonga's performances.[8] Though the film's theatrical release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released on October 9, 2020. The film is one of the first Filipino-American films to be released by a major Hollywood studio for theatrical release.[9]

Reception

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Box office

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Yellow Rose opened in 9th place at the US box office, taking in $150,000 in 900 theaters over its opening weekend.[10]

Critical reception

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 55 reviews, with an average of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A coming-of-age story with a timely twist, Yellow Rose offers a fresh -- and sweetly rewarding -- perspective on the immigrant experience."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12] Writing for The Philippine Reporter, Ysh Cabana wrote "Yellow Rose is the Filipino-American filmmaker’s response to the harsh reality of 21st Century America’s anti-immigrant policies."[13]

A film critic for Minorities Report Film wrote "Yellow Rose is a much needed film that reminds everyone that we are surrounded by people that might be living in sorrow and pain" [14]

New York Times said Paragas "spins a story that is both politically timely and personal...the music has the greatest staying power..."[15]

Accolades

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Year Association Category Recipient Result Ref.
2019 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Yellow Rose Won
Best Breakthrough Performance Eva Noblezada Won
Bentonville Film Festival Best Competition Narrative Yellow Rose Won
Asian American International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
CAAMFest Best Narrative Won
Urbanworld Film Festival Best Film Won
Best Narrative Feature Won
Austin Film Festival Marquee Feature Nominated
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Film Won
San Diego Asian Film Festival Audience Award Won
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Menkes Audience Choice Award Won
Fasken Martineau Best Feature Film Won
Vancouver Asian Film Festival Best Overall Feature Won
Hawaii International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
2021 Houston Film Critics Society Awards Texas Independent Film Award Won
2021 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Best Music Supervision for Films Budgeted Under $5 Million Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Yellow Rose". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "Yellow Rose (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Story". Yellow Rose. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 9, 2020). "New Film Yellow Rose, Starring Hadestown's Eva Noblezada, Released October 9; Soundtrack Now Available". Playbill.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ^ BWW News Desk. "Musical Film YELLOW ROSE Starring Lea Salonga & Eva Noblezada Set For Opening Night Of LAAPFF". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  6. ^ "YELLOW ROSE Soundtrack, Featuring Eva Noblezada, Available Today". BroadwayWorld.com. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Yellow Rose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Eva Noblezada, Dale Watson & Christopher H. Knight". AppleMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  8. ^ pelikulamania (2020-10-06). "Filipino-Led Hollywood Movie 'Yellow Rose' Receives #GoldOpen Premiere Pass for its Nationwide Release". Pelikula Mania. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  9. ^ "Yellow Rose". Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  10. ^ "'Domestic 2020 Weekend 41". BoxOffice Mojo. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  11. ^ "Yellow Rose (2019)", Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, retrieved 2021-10-10
  12. ^ Yellow Rose, retrieved 2020-10-11
  13. ^ Cabana, Ysh (6 December 2019). "Film Review: Yellow Rose (2019), A heartfelt story of the undocumented". The Philippine Reporter. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  14. ^ Shama, Mohamed (2020-10-07). "Yellow Rose | Film Review". Minorities Report. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  15. ^ Kim, Kristen Yoonsoo (2020-10-08). "'Yellow Rose' Review: A Timely Tale of Country Music Dreams". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
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