The German-Ukrainian film I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming has been selected for the main slate of the 64th New York Film Festival.
The film centers on a young Ukrainian queer couple, Olia and Oleg, whose gender transition coincides with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Their attempt to evacuate Kyiv is complicated by strict passport regulations, systemic transphobia, and social pressure around masculine norms in wartime.
The screenplay was written by Ukrainian screenwriter Anna Melikova, with direction by Isabel Stever. The lead roles are played by Tania Myronisheva and Markus Bright; the cast also includes Iryna Mak, Viktor Zhdanov, and Oleksandr Rudynskyi.
The world premiere took place in the international competition at the Locarno Film Festival, where the film is competing for the Golden Leopard. The Guardian’s film critics awarded it a full five stars.
