Germany, Ukraine 2020Language:Ukrainian, GermanSubtitles:GermanDirector:Marcus LenzWriter:Marcus Lenz, Lars HubrichCinematographer:Frank AmannEditor:Hansjörg Weißbrich, Bernd EuscherMusic:Caroline Siegers, Evgueni GalperineSound:Jonathan RitzelWith:Yelizar Nazarenko, Udo Samel, Maria BrunProducer:Gunter Hanfgarn, Andrea UferProduction Company:HANFGARN & UFER Filmproduktion GbRDistributor:HANFGARN & UFER Filmproduktion GbR90 min, Colour

“I don’t want to hear a word!” “Be quiet!” – 9-year old Roman hears these words a lot; he must not be discovered on route between Ukraine and Germany … the neighbours must not to see him in the staircase. After the death of his grandmother, no one in his Ukrainian village can look after Roman. And so, he makes his way to Germany where his mother, Oksana, works illegally as a nurse. She lives with Gert, a retiree, whose late wife had been in her care. When Roman arrives, he too, moves in with Gert. But the old man is a RIVAL for his mother’s attention. When his mother is hospitalized, Gert and Roman are left alone with each other. Tentatively, they approach one another.

Director's Biography:Marcus Lenz (born 1969) studied directing and cinematography at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB). In 2016 he co-founded the production company “wildfilms”.

Regional reference:

RIVALE was shot in Kiev (Ukraine) and Braunschweig.