Rambling Rose

A young, hard-of-hearing woman who comes to live with the Hillyer family as a domestic servant. She seeks affection and belonging, and her presence exposes fault lines in the household. Rose navigates poverty and social scrutiny, with choices that affect everyone around her.

The patriarch of the Hillyer household: warm and paternal, yet capable of anger when boundaries are crossed. He worries about Rose's influence on the family and ultimately fires her, while also guiding the household through a fraught period.

The grown son who returns in 1971 to reflect on his youth, offering perspective on the events that reshaped the family. His memory provides a bridge between past and present and drives the film's meditation on legacy.

The teenage son who witnesses the household tensions and becomes part of the family's history. His perspective captures adolescent confusion and the dawning awareness of the complexities within his home.

The mother in the household, perceptive and pragmatic. She sees Rose's longing for love and pushes for a humane approach to the unfolding crisis, even as she remains largely oblivious to some undercurrents in the home.

The physician who treats Rose during hospitalization and develops a complex, emotionally resonant connection with her. His role highlights care, vulnerability, and moral complexity in crisis.

One of the Hillyer children who shares in the family's life during the upheaval. Dolly's presence adds to the household’s dynamic and the children’s perspective on the events.

Another Hillyer child who grows up amid the family's complexities. His experiences with Rose and the adults contribute to the portrait of childhood within a volatile home.

Law enforcement figure who is involved in the events surrounding Rose’s trouble with the law. His presence intersects with the social consequences of the household’s secrets and Rose's later life.