Award-winning Filipino indie film “Yellow Rose” spotlights Eva Noblezada as Rose Garcia, as the star of a musical drama of an undocumented Filipina girl from the skirts of Austin, Texas who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music star. After her mother is detained, she struggles to find a new home and her way into stardom.

Rose, a Filipino-American 17-year-old, has her world turned upside down when she discovers her mother is arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Leaving her no choice but to abandon her home in a motel where her mother used to work. Her journey finding a safe place to sleep all while hiding from ICE leaves her stress ridden as she longs to be reunited with her mother. Her mother urges her to continue her school work as there are more opportunities in the U.S. than in the Philippines. As Rose is being forced to face reality, she overcomes the impossible and decides to stay in the U.S. pursue her dreams in being a country singing star.

This is a special film that really resonated with me especially knowing of the Filipino culture and having heard stories of those who are undocumented. Yellow Rose humanizes the truth of the undocumented and it creates a discussion of where the human element is in terms of the law. The story of an immigrant experience of what it is like for someone to bring a child whose decision was not theirs, then leave the child behind to make a better life is truly heart felt. The film showed that Rose had a humanistic portray of hope for her dreams. I heard a lot of the audience cry and sniffle, but laugh at some moments where Rose didn’t allow herself to be so serious. The musical drama holds so much compassion that relays in their artistic tunes. It propelled the film to a new level.

This film is presented in partnership with Houston Cinema Arts Society and the Asia Society.

(Disclaimer: Tickets to the film was complimentary, and all opinions are my own.)