Overview
- Markus Schleinzer’s black‑and‑white period drama debuted Feb. 15 in Berlin and is one of 22 films competing for the Golden Bear, to be awarded Feb. 21.
- Critics praised Hüller’s commanding performance and the film’s austere formal control, highlighting the monochrome cinematography and precise editing.
- Hüller told reporters that acceptance for gender‑nonconforming people is eroding again, reflecting the film’s contemporary resonance.
- Schleinzer said the protagonist is a composite drawn from sparse archival accounts of women who lived as men, arguing such cases were likely underrecorded.
- The Match Factory is handling international sales, with the Berlinale’s long‑standing focus on queer cinema underscored by the Teddy Award’s 40th anniversary.