Sandra Hüller Stars in Markus Schleinzer's Genderqueer Historical Drama 'Rose'

Markus Schleinzer's third feature film 'Rose' has been released in German cinemas. Set during the Thirty Years' War, the drama follows a soldier named Rose who returns to a village in the Harz region to claim an inheritance of a vacant farm. Despite the villagers' skepticism, Rose's papers appear legitimate, allowing him to settle in and even marry. The central twist is that Rose is an impostor and, more scandalously, a woman. Sandra Hüller delivers a powerful performance in the title role, supported by a strong cast including Caro Braun as Rose's wife Suzanna and Godehard Giese as the wealthy farmer. The film is shot in stark black-and-white by cinematographer Gerald Kerkletz, with an abrasive score by Tara Nome Doyle. Schleinzer's work has been compared to that of Michael Haneke, under whose shadow the director has struggled to emerge since his debut 'Michael' (2011) and follow-up 'Angelo' (2018). Haneke famously explored the dark underbelly of Austrian Catholic society before turning to the repressive structures of northern German Protestantism in his 2009 film 'The White Ribbon', also shot in black-and-white. 'Rose' functions simultaneously as a historical drama, a poignant genderqueer love story, and a parable about the perpetual otherness of immigrants.