Rose portrays a 17th-century woman living as a man who forms a tender, defiant marriage with another woman amid rigid patriarchal norms. Their relationship emerges as a source of quiet agency and mutual understanding, with external prejudice and exposure driving the conflict rather than any inherent flaw in their identities. The narrative affirms gender fluidity and queer resilience through empathetic framing and emotional depth.

Rose centers on a 17th-century woman who lives and works as a man for greater autonomy. The film presents this choice as pragmatic rather than an expression of transgender identity, leaving questions of self-understanding open while focusing on external social constraints and their consequences.

Rose depicts marriage as a pragmatic requirement for establishing legitimacy and land ownership in a 17th-century village rather than an expression of romantic commitment. The story centers on the protagonist's adoption of a male identity to navigate property rights and social standing, highlighting how traditional gender expectations dictate family formation and inheritance.

The film portrays a conservative Protestant village whose rigid beliefs, patriarchy, and suspicion of outsiders fuel bigotry and exclusion.