Yellow Rose

By: Michael Sun Lee

Yellow Rose is Diane Paragas’ narrative feature film debut about Rose Garcia, an undocumented teenage Filipina American girl with tentative dreams of becoming a country singer.  After her mother Priscilla (Princess Punzalan) is picked up by ICE, Rose (Eva Noblezada) flees capture and is left alone to find her way.  Her Aunt Gail (Lea Salonga) takes her in, but Rose flees that situation and finds a way to survive as her mother is incarcerated by immigration and later sent away to the Philippines.

Set within the backdrop of Austin, Texas we watch as Rose finds refuge in the country music bar scene when a bar owner Jolene (Libby Villari) takes her in.  But Rose is forced to escape that situation as well. Luckily for Rose, real life country singer Dale Watson accepts her into his home without judgment.  After some mentoring from Dale, sadly Rose runs away again on her own accord.  Although her friend Elliot (Liam Booth) tries to help her from the beginning, Rose attempts to survive in the city by herself without any help. It leads her to realize what she really needs.

Eva Noblezada’s presence and execution in her role provides this story with the reality and struggle for achieving one’s independence and finding a place in the world. Princess Punzalan’s emotional portrayal of her mother gives us a glimpse on the very human and consequential side of illegal immigration. The supporting cast of Dale Watson, Liam Booth and Libby Villari provide real and likeable portrayals of good ol’ nice everyday Americans.

The country music in Yellow Rose is another character in and of itself. The songs and lyrics help tell the story and push the slow narrative along.  I am not a country music fan per se, but I really enjoyed the performances and soundtrack.

There isn’t a false note in Yellow Rose, not in character, song, direction, performances, or otherwise. Bravo to Diane Paragas’ narrative directorial debut, which was fifteen years in the making.