✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 1 min read
💡 TLDR
Sandra Hüller is officially back in the Oscar race, playing a Thirty Years' War survivor who disguises herself as a man to survive. Between the intense prosthetics and the high-stakes tension, this black-and-white drama is an absolute powerhouse you can't miss.
📑 Quick Jump
Sandra Hüller is trading Anatomy of a Fall tension for historical survival, and honestly, we are obsessed. In Markus Schleinzer’s new black-and-white drama Rose, Hüller plays a veteran of the Thirty Years’ War attempting to build a life in rural Germany by passing as a man. She’s already snagged the Silver Bear at Berlin, making her an absolute powerhouse in the Oscar race.
The Physicality of Survival
Getting into character meant more than just wearing trousers; it required a total physical overhaul. To portray Rose’s facial scarring, Hüller worked with makeup artist Anette Keiser on a complex prosthetic clipped into her hair. I find limitations in acting very interesting because they force you to choose a certain form and help you find the essence of something when you leave a lot out. Beyond the makeup, Hüller even used a homemade device to nail the character’s physicality. Even the wardrobe felt real, since Schleinzer lent her his own personal shoes to keep everything grounded.
💫 I find limitations in acting very interesting because they force you to choose a certain form and help you find the essence of something when you leave a lot out.
A Story About Freedom
The film’s spark actually came from a wild coincidence: a friend told Schleinzer that, on his birthday, she read about a woman executed 250 years ago just for wearing pants. That moment ignited his research into women who used clothing to claim agency—whether to avoid marriage, seek education, or fight in wars. Schleinzer intentionally avoided nudity to “prove” Rose’s gender, arguing the story doesn’t need skin to be impactful. Instead, we get all the delicious, simmering tension of a life lived under constant watchfulness. As Austria’s official international feature submission, Rose hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 11.
Are you planning to catch this one in theaters, or are you waiting for it to hit streaming?
❓ People Also Ask
What is the plot of the movie Rose?
Rose is a black-and-white historical drama centered on a woman living in rural Germany during the Thirty Years' War. The story follows a veteran who attempts to build a new life by passing as a man to survive. Director Markus Schleinzer developed the concept after researching historical women who used clothing to claim agency and avoid social restrictions. The film explores themes of freedom and the tension of living a life under constant watchfulness.
How did Sandra Hüller prepare for her role in Rose?
Sandra Hüller underwent a significant physical overhaul to portray the character's survivalist nature. She worked with makeup artist Anette Keiser to use a complex prosthetic clipped into her hair to simulate facial scarring. To master the character's specific physicality, Hüller even utilized a homemade device during her preparation. Additionally, she wore the director's personal shoes to ensure her movements and connection to the period wardrobe felt authentic and grounded.
Why did the director choose to avoid nudity in the film?
Markus Schleinzer intentionally avoided nudity to demonstrate that the story does not require skin to be impactful. He wanted to prove that the character's gender and the film's emotional weight could be conveyed through other means. By focusing on tension and the nuances of Rose's life, the director emphasizes the psychological struggle of her identity. This creative choice allows the film to focus on the simmering tension of her constant state of watchfulness.
When will the film Rose be released in U.S. theaters?
The film Rose is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on December 11. This historical drama serves as Austria’s official international feature submission for the upcoming awards season. Having already won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the movie is positioned as a major contender in the Oscar race. Audiences can expect a powerful performance from Sandra Hüller as she transitions from her previous tension-filled roles to this historical survival story.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Hollywood Reporter