German director Markus Schleinzer's historical drama 'Rose,' starring Sandra Hüller, has been released in Germany. In an interview with DW, Schleinzer discussed the historical phenomenon of women disguising themselves as men and why this topic remains relevant today.

Set in the 17th century, the film follows Rose, a woman who conceals her gender and arrives in an isolated community as a scarred soldier returning from the Thirty Years' War, claiming to be the heir to a long-abandoned farmstead.

The director was inspired by the true story of Catharina Margaretha Linck, executed in 1721 for sodomy by Prussian King Frederick William I. Linck lived most of her life as a man and was the last person executed for lesbian sexual activity in Europe.

Schleinzer notes that women passed as men for various reasons: escaping forced marriage, domestic violence, economic hardship after a spouse's death, or following husbands to war. 'All these women had the same goal: freedom,' he says.

As a queer filmmaker, Schleinzer views the film as a political statement. He argues that 'Rose,' though a historical drama, speaks to contemporary issues such as gender inequality, gender-based violence, and transgender rights.

The film premiered at the Berlinale, where Sandra Hüller won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. It hits German theaters on April 30 and will be distributed internationally by Mubi.

Source: www.dw.com