'Rose' arrives in cinemas on 30 April. The film stars Sandra Hüller in the lead role. Director Markus Schleinzer discussed his new work.

The film follows a woman who wears men's clothing. This is commonly called crossdressing. In the film, she does this primarily for economic reasons. She wants to build a better life this way.

Schleinzer explains that the main character is not a heroine. She is not a revolutionary like Rosa Luxemburg. She is simply a woman making choices to survive. That makes her human and relatable.

Women wearing men's roles has a long history. This is also called 'Hosenrollen'. Historically, this was sometimes the only way women gained freedom. Or accessed certain professions.

The director deliberately chose to avoid nude scenes. There are also no explicit sexual scenes in the film. Schleinzer wants to focus on the story. He wants viewers to reflect on gender and identity.

Sandra Hüller is a well-known German actress. She previously won awards for her work in other films. In 'Rose', she takes on a unique challenge. She plays a woman hiding her identity from society.

The film interests the queer audience. It explores themes like gender, identity and freedom. These themes remain relevant today. People still struggle with who they are allowed to be in society.

'Rose' is a German-Austrian production. The film received positive reception at film festivals. Critics call it a careful and sensitive portrait. It is a must-see for queer cinema enthusiasts.

The film plays from 30 April in select cinemas. Markus Schleinzer hopes the film reaches a wide audience. He wants to start a conversation about gender roles in history.