A timely, affecting entry from Filipino-American Dane Paragas makes a fine companion to the recent Wild Rose which starred Jesse Buckley.
Here, in Yellow Rose, Eva Noblezada is an absorbing 17-year-old Rose Garcia having those country-music aspirations in trying to leave the seediness of Lubbock, Tx for a scene of its capital, Austin.
Filpina Rose is in harmony with her preferred (especially Loretta Lynn) genre coupled with ‘Dahil Sa Lyo’ while dwelling with mother Priscilla at a hotel where the latter handles the front desk and cleans rooms.
The ‘sorrows and hopes of America’ and an ode to the Lone Star State come to fruition as a struggling family deal with the ramifications fo an undocumented status.
To Paragas’ credit, her spare and creative way with her vision and storyline makes the prototypical relatable and winsome. Key support comes rom Tony-winner and animated Mulan and Aladdin alum Lea Salonga as an estranged aunt of a higher status, Gail.
Also, look for Austin country favorite Dale Watson as a spurring desperado as well as Libby Villari as the personable proprietor Jolene as hitches, epiphanies, and entanglements occur.
Yellow Rose will obviously entice country fans as the underrepresented gets its due in singular fashion with some fine acoustic strumming.