10.02.2026 | "Rose" in the Berlinale competition
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Austrian Director Markus Schleinzer has made a historical drama - without any pomp or opulent costumes. Set in the 17th century, it tells the story of a woman in trousers in black and white. For the filmmaker, this is a great medium for dealing with unifying themes. The fantastic Sandra Hüller plays the title character. Rose" celebrates its world premiere in the Berlinale Competition in mid-February. There's a bit of Hamburg in it too.
From Britta Schmeis
Historical films like to play with colourful costumes, striking props and magnificent landscapes. This is exactly what Markus Schleinzer does not want. For him, these trappings overshadow the story, smother it. The spectators become voyeurs, he believes. This is precisely why he opted for black and white for "Rose". "For me, it's a great medium to bundle and focus something," he says in an interview with MOIN Film Fund, which supported the film. Some key team members come from the north. As does the good catering. The actor Marius, who is currently performing at the Thalia Theatre, can be seen in one role. On 15 February, the film will celebrate its world premiere at the Berlinale, where it will compete for the Golden Bear.
This monochrome refuses to allow the viewer to categorise and classify too quickly. "Soldiers, for example, cannot be immediately distinguished by the colour of their uniforms. It is not the red colour of blood that is dramatic, but the injury," explains the director, actor and caster. In black and white, the focus is less on the effect and more on the essentials. The story, the staging, the play and the audience's imagination allow for nuanced observation.
Set in the 17th century, "Rose" tells the story of a woman in trousers. She turns up in a Protestant village as a soldier from the Thirty Years' War and lays claim to a long abandoned and extremely dilapidated farm. The initially sceptical village community quickly abandons its mistrust when it recognises the diligence, godliness, discipline and success of the eccentric. Disfigured by a large scar on her face, this Rose (Sandra Hüller) strives for recognition and freedom. But her life is based on a lie and greed for more and more. In order to maintain this deception - and also to preserve her freedom - she does not even shy away from marrying the daughter (Caro Braun) of the big farmer (Godehard Giese).
I watched all of Sandra's films like a stalker.
Markus Schleinzer wrote the script together with Alexander Brom and delved deep into the history of "Women in Trousers". "Women have always pretended to be men for very different reasons," he explains. Markus already had Sandra Hüller as Rose in mind while writing. In 2023, he stood in front of the camera with her for Frauke Finsterwalder's "Sisi & Ich" as Emperor Franz Josef. This was also a kind of historical film in a very modern guise. It also celebrated its premiere at the Berlinale. Markus watched Sandra Hüller very closely during filming. "And then I watched all her films like a stalker." She quickly fell in love with the role. "Your script is a poem," she said to him, Markus recalls. And so the film really does have a lot to do with storytelling.
The Austrian also deliberately chose the 17th century. "I liked the sparseness and the Protestantism, which we convey a lot about in our film." In this way, he manages to negotiate something from the present in the past. The Directors therefore also sees "Rose" as a socio-political film without a didactic club. "But you are confronted with the same mechanisms again and again. And that's why the character of Rose and the whole film is so topical for me." Audiences can now see this for themselves at the Berlinale and then throughout Germany at the end of April. That's when "Rose" will be released in cinemas.
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