production design beatrice schultz

rivale, feature film, 2020, 96 min.

written and directed by marcus lenz

cinematographer frank amann

produced by hanfgarn und ufer filmproduction (berlin), belkastrelka (Kiew), wildfilms(düsseldorf)

the story is about a 10-year-old ukrainian boy looking for his new home after his grandmother died. he follows his mother to germany who works illegally as a carer in a german household. but there is this other man.

a time of lurking begins, in constant tension between power struggles and cautious approach. a dramatic, unequal struggle driven by jealousy, love and the need to survive.

personal note

my question was, how many different faces may have "home"

a challenging short preparation time ultimately helped to create a very precise visual concept because there was no other option than to react quickly. on the one hand there was the clearly structured and well organised apartment of mr. schwarz which at the same time has a multitude of locked doors that seem both mysterious and claustrophobic to roman, but also arouse his curiosity to enter forbidden spaces, to see what he shouldn't see...
in contrast to the apartment, then the weekend house in the forest, where anarchy prevails both externally and internally and mr. schwarz suddenly becomes another lively person until ...

world premiere busan international film festival (south korea), oct. 2020,

tallinn black nights film festival (estland), nov.2020 and many others around the world.

german premiere hof international filmfest, oct. 2020

awards: won new german cinema award 2020 for best film in hof, as well as berlin new film award 2021, and numerous international awards