Rose’s linear structure and unwavering focus on Sandra Hüller’s protagonist make for an extremely effective, if often simple, character study.
Director: Markus Schleinzer
Genre: Period Drama
Run Time: 93′
Berlin Film Festival Screenings: February 15-22, 2026
U.S. Release Date: TBA
U.K. Release Date: TBA
“Simple” is often thrown around as a criticism, especially when it comes to storytelling, but Markus Schleinzer’s Rose (2026) proves that sometimes it can be a virtue. The film, which unfolds with streamlined precision, is presented to us like a fairytale; there’s an omniscient narrator, a very linear narrative, and just one character at the heart of the story.
This classic structure, in combination with some dazzling cinematography and creative visuals, makes Rose a very engaging and compelling film despite its lack of narrative ambition.
Rose centers around the titular character, a female soldier (Sandra Hüller, of Anatomy of a Fall) living in 17th century Germany who assumes her dead comrade’s identity in order to receive his sizable inheritance and build a home for herself on his family lands. But when the locals begin to suspect that Rose isn’t exactly who she claims to be—much less the sex she claims to be—she’s forced to comply with increasingly toxic demands in order to uphold her reputation and maintain her freedom.
Rose is balancing a very fair line with its pantomimic narrative, taking the audience on a pretty far-fetched ride but maintaining a very somber and touching atmosphere at the same time. There are moments that elicit laughter simply because of how bizarre they are: Rose trying to uphold the facade after marrying a young woman, her new wife discovering her secret after Rose is stung by a bee, or an angry mob of villagers turning up on her doorstep demanding to see beneath her trousers. It’s a real comedy of errors, but beneath the entire charade is a deceptively tender and moving story about breaking free of social convention and sacrificing one’s reputation in exchange for their independence.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much Rose can accomplish with its charming simplicity. The story feels uneven whenever it tries to step outside the narrative boundaries that it’s set for itself, and any moment that Sandra Hüller isn’t on-screen feels like an awkward diversion that doesn’t necessarily fuel the story. Thankfully, those moments are few and far between. Her fierce lead performance is the key to unlocking this narrative, and Hüller does an impeccable job of making this figure charming and charismatic despite the toxic behavior she exhibits to maintain her wealth. It’s a story of a pretty terrible person objectively, but one that you can’t help but root for anyway – and that’s entirely down to Hüller’s fine-tuned performance.
Rose also exhibits some incredibly sharp, dazzling black-and-white cinematography (Gerald Kerkletz) that constantly subverts expectations and creates a very rich, atmospheric mood throughout the film. The lack of color doesn’t feel trivial: it’s a clear decision to mirror the mundanity of Rose’s life following her time in the war, but it also helps capture the gorgeous visuals of these barren landscapes in an inventive, eye-catching way.
Ultimately, there’s very little to complain about with Rose. It’s entertaining, it’s emotional, and it comes with barrels of laughs; it’s simply constrained by its simple narrative structure and doesn’t feel as impactful as it perhaps could have been. At its best, it’s a gorgeous narrative vehicle for Sandra Hüller, who completely steals the show from start to finish – though her co-star Caro Braun also does a hugely entertaining job with a fairly underwritten character. An incredibly easy watch, if not a particularly ambitious or game-changing one.
Rose (Berlinale 2026): Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
In the early 17th century, somewhere in Germany, a mysterious soldier arrives in an isolated Protestant village. Slight and modest by nature, his face disfigured by a scar, this stranger declares himself to be the heir of a long-abandoned farmstead and produces a document to support his claim to the suspicious villagers.
Pros:
- A brilliant lead performance from Sandra Huller, elevated by her co-star Caro Braun.
- Dazzling monochrome visuals that perfectly capture the aesthetic of the rural setting.
- A simple, concise, and effective story that balances several genres together well.
Cons:
- The lack of narrative ambition can leave the film oversimplified, sticking to its one-note storytelling throughout.
- The overbearing focus on Hüller’s protagonist comes at the expense of a more complex, challenging story.
Rose (2026) premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 15-22, 2026. Read our Berlin Film Festival reviews and our list of 20 films to watch at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival!