‘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.