How a harrowing journey through the war in Ukraine forces a queer couple to confront the ultimate test of their identity, survival, and personal values
The Locarno Film Festival recently premiered a film that challenges audiences to look at the intersection of conflict and personal identity. I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming, directed by Isabelle Stever and written by Anna Melikova, serves as a poignant bulletin from the frontlines of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The story follows a young queer couple, Olya and Oleh, who find their lives upended by the Russian invasion. While attempting to flee to the safety of Germany, they face an impossible hurdle that forces them to reconsider the very nature of their own existence and the choices they made in times of peace.
As reported by the Locarno film festival, the narrative serves as a bold exploration of how the pressures of war can expose deep-seated societal fractures. This film is not just about a physical escape, but about the survival of one’s inner truth under extreme duress.
A desperate struggle for freedom at the border
Oleh, a trans man, faces a terrifying reality when he learns that no men between the ages of 18 and 60 are permitted to leave Ukraine. In a move of desperate cowardice, he plans to disavow his identity to cross the border, intending to present psychiatric papers that claim he is a woman.
The film delivers a powerful punch during a tense encounter with female border guards who show deep contempt for his plan. They demand to know why he fought so hard to be a man if he is now willing to discard that identity. They sharply remark, You wanted to be a man so much? So stay here and be a man.
The collision of language and cultural identity
Beyond the immediate threat of the border, the film highlights how the war has turned everyday life into a minefield of suspicion. The social fabric of Ukraine is shown to be fraying as language becomes a weapon of choice for those looking to identify enemies.
A Russian-speaking woman in the story, who previously faced no issues with her native tongue, suddenly finds herself met with cold, hostile silence. This atmosphere of intolerance leads to violent outbursts, including a moment where Oleh is struck during a brawl, illustrating that language, culture, and identity have become combustible elements in the conflict.
An intimate look at a belief system in crisis
The film also excels by focusing on the internal dynamics of Olya’s family. While her mother remains fatalistic, her sister is overcome with rage at her husband for leaving to join the army, leaving her to care for their child alone. These domestic struggles mirror the larger, national chaos.
Ultimately, I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming serves as a unique and challenging piece of cinema. It forces the audience to consider how a belief system holds up when the world is burning. By examining the shifting attitudes toward gender and transition, the film remains a deeply relevant reflection of our modern times.
