Wild Rose (2019), directed by Tom Harper

Leaving Glasgow prison with an ankle monitor, Rose-Lynn’s first stop is her boyfriend’s place for a quick shag in the park. Then it’s off to her mother’s house, where her two children have been living while she’s been inside. Children and prison have been annoying interruptions to Rose-Lynn’s aspirations to a brilliant career as a country singer in Nashville. Her mother gets her a job as a cleaner and tries to bring her down to earth, but Rose-Lynn has big dreams and will do almost anything to achieve them. Jessie Buckley is compelling as Rose-Lynn, imbuing her prickly character with enough sympathy to overcome her often-challenging behaviour. It helps that she enables the audience to totally believe in Rose’s talent and therefore her crazy dreams don’t seem completely impossible. Julie Walters is terrific as her long-suffering mother, and the actress playing her vulnerable daughter is exceptional. Sophie Okonedo heads up a fine supporting cast; Nicole’s Taylor’s screenplay is sharp, funny and unsentimental; and the music is great even if you’re not a fan of country.