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‘I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming’ Review: A Ukrainian Trans Man and His Wife Face Excruciating Choices in a Sensitive, Sensuous Drama
‘I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming’ is a sensitive Ukrainian wartime drama about Oleh, a trans man who receives a military conscription notice after Russia’s 2022 invasion, and his wife Olya, who urges them to flee to the EU. The review finds that the film’s central conflict—between Oleh’s identity, state expectations and the couple’s safety—creates an unusually painful dilemma, while avoiding a simplistic judgement of either partner.
Directed by Isabelle Stever and written by Ukrainian writer Anna Melikova, the 100-minute film premiered in Locarno’s main competition and is due to screen at the 64th New York Film Festival. It stars largely non-professional performers Markus Bright and Tania Myronyshena, whose performances are praised, and begins with the couple arguing over Oleh’s apparent willingness to serve before returning to their happier life together on New Year’s Eve 2021.
In short
- A trans Ukrainian man faces conscription during wartime.
- His wife wants them to escape to the EU.
- The review praises its nuanced performances and restraint.
Explained simply
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, bringing military mobilisation and the possibility of conscription for some Ukrainian men. For transgender people, official documents and state rules can complicate how military service requirements apply, adding personal and practical questions to decisions about safety.
The film follows Oleh, a trans man, and his wife Olya as they confront the prospect of his service and whether to leave Ukraine for the European Union. Their choices sit within a wider tension between a country at war, individual identity and the risks families face when deciding whether to stay or flee.
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