The historical drama Rose starring Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller will open in Ukrainian cinemas on September 17, 2026. The film arrives in nationwide theatrical distribution following its world premiere earlier in the year at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Hüller received the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the festival for her work in the project. The Silver Bear is awarded by the Berlin International Film Festival, one of Europe's primary film festivals. The German actress previously gained international acclaim for her roles in Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, Project Hail Mary, and Digger.
Set in 17th-century Europe during the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War, a major conflict fought across Central Europe, the story follows a mysterious soldier who arrives in a remote village claiming to inherit an abandoned estate. Suspicious locals treat the newcomer with distrust, unaware that the soldier conceals a secret identity as a woman named Rose who wears men's clothing to start a new life. To secure her position, Rose remains ready to do anything, including marrying the daughter of a local farmer.
Production and Archival Research
Austrian filmmaker Markus Schleinzer directed the movie, having previously helmed feature films including Angelo and Michael. Schleinzer built his career as a casting director working with renowned Austrian filmmakers Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl.
The screenwriters based the narrative on years of research into archival documents and artistic works detailing 16th- and 17th-century women who disguised themselves as men. Before writing the final screenplay, the creative team authored a 1,000-page historical book specifically to guide the production crew.
Critical reception for the picture remains strong across major review aggregator platforms. The film holds an IMDb rating of 7.6 out of 10, a 100 percent approval score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Metacritic rating of 88 out of 100, which corresponds to universal acclaim.
Industry publication The Hollywood Reporter described the work as a masterful film, while Variety and The Guardian highlighted Hüller for her acting performance. Austria has selected Rose as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Ukrainian Release and Veteran Voice Cast
Ukrainian audiences first viewed the film during the Austrian Film Week 2026 festival, where it screened in its original language with subtitles. The upcoming nationwide theatrical run will mark the debut of a fully dubbed Ukrainian version.
For the dubbed release, film distributor Arthouse Traffic joined forces with the military movement VETERANKA, an organization supporting Ukrainian female service members and veterans. The partners launched a recruitment initiative calling for male and female military veterans and active service members to join the Ukrainian dubbing cast.
Interested veterans and service personnel can submit applications through an online link provided by the organizers. Previous acting experience or voiceover practice is considered an advantage for applicants, but it is not a decisive requirement.
