During the early days of a major conflict that would shape the country for decades, Rose makes the decision to leave behind her life as a soldier. This is introduced through a voiceover by German actress Marisa Growaldt, as the film opens with images of Sandra Hüller in the title role. A subtitle quickly follows, describing the film as the "true story" of a "fraud" who, "although she was born a woman, took on the appearance of a man and committed many misdeeds under a false name," with the victims being "an entire country and its people." This immediately sets the tone and reveals that Sandra Hüller—known for her roles in Toni Erdmann and Anatomie d'une chute—is playing a woman who disguises herself as a man. From the start, the audience is aware that the protagonist will eventually be exposed for who she really is. However, Austrian director Markus Schleinzer chooses not to focus on suspense or dramatic tension. Instead, he builds an atmospheric and moody narrative that feels more like a slow, deliberate unfolding of events. The voiceover uses rich, baroque language that is both enchanting and poetic, adding a layer of complexity to the storytelling. The film’s black-and-white cinematography further enhances this somber and reflective mood. It creates a visual style reminiscent of classic cinema, giving the story a timeless and melancholic quality. This aesthetic choice, combined with the voiceover’s lyrical tone, has led some analysts to describe the film as a cinematic lament—one that mourns not just the actions of the protagonist but also the broader consequences of the conflict she becomes entangled in. Schleinzer’s approach invites viewers to focus on the emotional and moral dimensions of the story rather than on the typical elements of a thriller. The result is a film that lingers in the mind, offering a nuanced portrayal of identity, deception, and the personal costs of war.