‘The Rose: Come Back To Me’ Documentary Review: Keeps Us Coming Back

In the opening credits of the documentary, The Rose: Come Back To Me, the Korean rock group, The Rose, is performing at last year’s Coachella. Donned in their fancy (and very thick) bejeweled outfits, the group is introduced individually by their English names: guitarist/vocalist Sammy (Woosung), guitarist/vocalist Leo (Dojoon), bass player Jeff (Jaehyeong/Taegyeom), and drummer Dylan (Hajoon).

The group has been dominating the K-music scene for the past few years, particularly in Europe and the U.S. Now, with their current agency, American record label Transparent Arts, the group has fully gone global, with fan bases all over the world. It comes as no surprise that, eight years after their debut, they’d want to tell the story of how it all started from the streets of Hongdae, Seoul, South Korea, to signing to an American label and agency, to worldwide recognition and sold-out concerts.

Directed by Eugene Yi, the members of The Rose had their humble beginnings busking on the streets of the Seoul neighborhood of Hongdae. It began with Leo performing on his own and living off the tips he received, but he truly did it for the love of music. He would later meet Dylan, who was a K-pop trainee alongside Jeff. Dylan and Jeff didn’t care about being trainees and left to form a band with Leo. The trio felt like they were missing one more sound from their band.

Leo recalled meeting Sammy at a club. Korean American singer Sammy, who found fame on the Korean competition show K-pop Star, agreed to join the band and felt an immediate connection with the members after their music sessions together. The Rose, named for the duality of the flower – beautiful but filled with thorns- was formed and signed to a Korean label in 2016.

The group suffered a lot of hardships – an agency that was trying to single out Sammy as the star of the group, lawsuits, COVID, military service, depression, and a drug incident. Through it all, the band persevered and made it. It’s interesting to learn about the trials and tribulations of a group, especially when it is expressed through their music. It provides a deeper appreciation of the group and their music.

Jeff, who had suffered from depression and nearly quit music, has always been the “quiet one” in the group, as well as Dylan, during interviews and promotions. It was endearing to hear his perspective on how music saved his life and how impactful it has been for him to learn that it has changed the lives of their fans. Although it seems each member gets their moment to shine in the documentary, from seeing Leo talk about his solo busking days to visiting Sammy’s childhood home in Los Angeles, Dylan’s story never expanded beyond the fact that he was a former trainee, now a band member. It would have been nice to see how much the band impacted him.

The 91-minute documentary was also told through animation, further expressing the members’ feelings and their stories. It was a nice touch to an already animated group. The direction, editing, and pacing were well done, cutting to appropriate funny and emotional moments to balance the story. It never felt like a sob story to garner sympathy or a sense of righteousness, which is refreshing. It was a simple retelling of “this is who we are, and we hope you like it.” It’s raw and honest.

As someone who has been following the group for the past few years, having their English names introduced was a bit of a shock and a bit disappointing. Their Korean names were how many – including myself – were introduced to them as a rock group, even Sammy performed his solo tour under his Korean name, Woosung. The documentary seemed to cater to Western audiences, making it easier for them to remember and pronounce their names. The group worked hard to make a name for themselves; they shouldn’t have to change it.

Overall, the film is a fun watch for everyone, even if you haven’t heard of the band. It will recruit some new fans, not only because their story is so touching, but their music is excellent too. For those who are already familiar with The Rose, it will provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of them and how much they truly deserve this success.

The Rose: Come Back to Me premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.