Rosebush Pruning

Rosebush Pruning is a 97‑minute satirical tragicomedy thriller that dives head‑first into the absurdities of an ultra‑wealthy, perverse family. Directed by Karim Aïnouz in his second English‑language feature, the film is written by Efthimis Filippou and loosely riffed off Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 classic Fists in the Pocket. It premiered in the main competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, earning a Golden Bear nomination.

The story opens on a sunny Spanish beach, where Edward (Callum Turner) is giving a lecture on fashion to a new friend, George. From there we’re introduced to the family’s new home in Catalonia: the matriarch, Mother (Pamela Anderson), was tragically ripped apart by wolves, and the household now consists of Father (Tracy Letts) and his four children—Anna (Riley Keough), Robert (Lukas Gage), Jack (Jamie Bell), and Edward. Jack brings home his girlfriend, Martha (Elle Fanning), and the family’s already tangled dynamics start to unravel. The film plays with the idea that “people are roses, families are rosebushes, and rosebushes need pruning,” and it does so with a mix of dark humor, sharp satire, and a touch of thriller‑style tension.

The cast is a star‑studded mix of talent: Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Tracy Letts, and Pamela Anderson lead the charge, with supporting turns from Elena Anaya as Emma. The production was a collaboration between The Apartment Pictures, Match Factory Productions, Mubi, Kavac Film, and Rai Cinema, with filming taking place over 35 days in Spain’s Castellterçol and Barcelona.

Critics have been split. Rotten Tomatoes shows only 27 % of 22 reviews as positive, while Metacritic gives it a 46/100, labeling the reception “mixed or average.” Indiewire’s David Opie called it “wearying and amusing in equal measure,” and The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney described it as “shallowness with style in mixed‑bag satire.” So if you’re into black comedy that pushes the envelope with family drama and a dash of thriller, this could be right up your alley. If you’re averse to incestuous themes or prefer straightforward storytelling, you might find the film’s tone a bit too off‑beat.

Overall, Rosebush Pruning is a bold, satirical take on wealth, family, and the strange ways we all try to “prune” each other’s lives—whether you love it or hate it, it’s definitely a conversation starter.