The 47-year-old plays a woman who poses as a man in a small, remote village in the 17th century. This is the only way she sees the chance of a free, self-determined existence. When she is exposed, the village community shows no mercy. The Austrian director Schleinzer tells the story in strict black and white images.

“Rose” highlights the still current issue of stigmatization and oppression of people who want to lead a lifestyle that deviates from supposed norms. In an interview with dpa, Hülser said that she had completed strength training and combat training for the role.