‘Rosebush Pruning’ Trailer Promises Twisted Family Drama with Dark Comic Bite

Streaming platform Mubi has unveiled the official trailer for Rosebush Pruning, a bizarre and darkly comic new film from Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz. Known for his unconventional storytelling, Aïnouz seems to be leaning fully into the strange and satirical with this latest offering—one that dissects wealth, privilege, and deeply dysfunctional relationships with an unsettling edge.

 

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Catalonia, the film follows a wealthy American family grappling with isolation after the shocking death of their matriarch. Led by siblings Jack, Ed, Anna, and Robert, the story unfolds inside an opulent villa where luxury masks emotional decay. When Jack decides to move in with his girlfriend, it disrupts the fragile, co-dependent dynamics within the family, pushing tensions to the surface and forcing long-buried secrets—especially surrounding their mother’s mysterious death—to emerge.

 

The ensemble cast is stacked, featuring Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage, Elena Anaya, Tracy Letts, Elle Fanning, and Pamela Anderson. With such a diverse lineup, the film promises performances that balance absurdity with emotional intensity.

 

What makes Rosebush Pruning stand out is its unapologetically provocative tone. The narrative leans into taboo territory, exploring warped familial bonds and psychological unrest, all wrapped in biting satire. Written by Efthimis Filippou and loosely inspired by Fists in the Pocket, the film carries a legacy of confronting uncomfortable truths through dark humor.

 

Slated for release on April 23, 2026, Rosebush Pruning looks like a film that won’t be for everyone—but that’s exactly its appeal. For those drawn to offbeat cinema that challenges norms and embraces the bizarre, this could be one of the most talked-about indie releases of the year.