The Roses

The story moves across several settings: a quiet afternoon in London marks the initial romance, followed by a coastal life in Mendocino, California as the family settles, and later shifts to fast-paced cities like New York City and Miami for opportunities and growth. Each locale shapes the characters' ambitions and tensions, from cosmopolitan dreams to small-town family life. The changing scenery underscores the film's exploration of home, success, and the strains of modern relationships.

💔 Marital Strife

An intimate portrait of a marriage stretched by competing dreams. Ivy's ascent as a restaurateur contrasts with Theo's need for control and recognition, fueling jealousy and distance. They attempt reconciliation through vacations, counseling, and shared projects, but resentment hardens into toxicity. The narrative culminates in a fatal twist that tests whether love can endure when communication collapses.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parenting

The film examines parenting styles as Ivy nurtures and enjoys domestic life while Theo enforces healthful routines. The twins, Hattie and Roy, grow under competing influences, becoming prodigies whose achievements magnify parental conflicts. Their education and sports scholarships intensify the couple's disagreements, highlighting the costs of ambition on family life. The home becomes a pressure cooker where care, control, and affection collide.

🎯 Ambition vs Comfort

Ivy sacrifices her own business dreams to raise a family, while Theo channels energy into architecture and later the dream of a perfect home. The couple's visions evolve, collide, and gradually unravel their connection. The house, restaurant, and children's futures symbolize competing notions of success and happiness. In the end, renewed affection clashes with fate, reminding viewers of the thin line between aspiration and emotional security.