The director of the film 'I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming', Isabelle Stever, and her collaborator Anna Melikova, discuss the challenges and creative evolution of their new screenplay. The film, a queer love story, was originally set to explore the impact of transition on a couple, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed its focus to the disruption of lives by war. The German-Ukrainian pair faced practical challenges, including a limited shooting schedule in Ukraine, which led them to adapt their plans. They found their central characters, Oleh and Olya, through a combination of luck and intention, ensuring authenticity in their performances. The non-professional actors, a transgender man and a journalist, brought a unique intimacy to the film, despite the safety concerns during the shoot. The ending, which questions the categorization of people and the impact on their dignity, is a thought-provoking conclusion to the film's journey.
