Derek Elley of "Variety" notes the film is "Anchored by a performance of grim determination and almost feral instincts from its lead actress, 'Rosetta' is an extremely small European art movie from Belgian brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne that will alienate as many viewers as it wins over." Stephen Holden of "The New York Times" gave a more critical review due to the prevalent gloom, stating "Rosetta" " is so clinically detached from its subject and its screenplay so minimal that we never really feel the title character's intense suffering or even get to know her very well. As she spirals into despair, the film's heavy, social-realist angst feels more than a little contrived...Instead of feeling universal, the movie feels claustrophobic." In his review for "Boston Globe" Jay Carr surmises, "The bleakness of Rosetta will not be for all, but it's one of the best films of the year."