The latest feature film from director, Marcus Lenz (Close), Rivale (Rival) tells the story of Roman, a young Ukrainian boy who is left homeless after his grandmother dies. According to a prearranged plan, Roman is then smuggled into Germany in order to reunite with his mother, Oksana. Oksana has been working there illegally as a home care aid for Gert, an elderly German man with diabetes. The initial barrier between the boy and his new housemate, caused by their differing native tongues, only widens when Gert makes it known that he plans to marry Roman’s mother—but those plans are put in jeopardy when Oksana becomes gravely ill.

Rivale (Rival) is part thriller and part child-fantasy. With a stunning performance by young actor, Yelizar Nazarenko, the movie portrays an isolated child as both more precarious and capable than we typically imagine. The connection between Oksana, played beautifully by Maria Bruni, and Roman celebrates the intense and sometimes beguiling bond between mother and child and exposes the cruelties of immigration policies. At times darkly funny and suddenly tragic, Rivale (Rival) is a movie sure to stick with any parent.

Content Considerations: strong language, depictions of child abuse

After the screening there will be a live virtual Q&A with tWriter/Director Marcus Lenz moderated by MdFF Artistic Director, Christy LeMaster.