rose

Markus Schleinzer's latest film (Michael, 11th NH; Angelo, 19th NH), honored at the Berlinale with the Silver Bear for her outstanding role as Sandra Hüller, is a dark, perverse tale of a woman posing as a man in 17th-century Protestant Germany. A mysterious, war-experienced soldier arrives in an isolated village who claims to be the heir of an abandoned farm. Although initially suspicious, over time — armed with documents and an impeccable work ethic — he gains the trust of the community by adjusting to the strict order that governs it. Schleinzer skillfully builds tension: the stronger the hero takes root in the community, the more clearly the foundations of his identity break. The stark black and white images highlight the coldness of a world ruled by norms and a lack of trust, where any difference threatens to be excluded. The Rose is a poignant study of life in hiding, a film about the need for self-determination and about the narrow framework of social norms that suppress this need. Tragedy lurks here from the very first scenes, but Schleinzer's perfectly executed drama is also a bitter parable about the history of the struggle for the right to be ourselves and how much we owe to those who were here before us.