I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming (2026) - Isabelle Stever Film

The tender, turbulent relationship at the heart of I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming is set to reach audiences this weekend, as the Ukrainian love story opens in theaters on August 9. Directed by Isabelle Stever, the 100-minute drama follows Olya and Oleh, a young queer couple whose bond is tested when one partner’s gender transition coincides with the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The film, which carries a Drama classification, arrives with a cast led by Tania Myronyshena as Olha and Markus Bright as Oleh, alongside Iryna Mak, Viktor Zhdanov, Maiia Sobolevskaya, Mary Myronyshena, and Oleksandr Rudynskyi.

A Love Story Caught Between Personal and Political Upheaval

The narrative centers on the dual pressures facing the couple: the deeply personal journey of transition and the external chaos of wartime. Rather than treating these as separate threads, Stever reportedly weaves them into a single fabric of survival and identity. For Olha, the invasion forces a reckoning not just with her place in a country at war, but with her own sense of self as her partner navigates a changing body and public identity. Untuk Oleh, the war amplifies the stakes of being visible as a trans person in a society under siege, where traditional norms are often reinforced in times of crisis.

The film’s title itself hints at a dreamlike disconnect from reality, a state that becomes impossible to maintain when bombs fall and checkpoints multiply. The screenplay, developed with input from the cast, is said to draw on real experiences of queer Ukrainians who faced both the existential threat of war and the intimate challenges of self-discovery. The result is a narrative that avoids melodrama, favoring quiet, observant moments over grand gestures.

Casting and Chemistry as a Foundation

The choice of Tania Myronyshena and Markus Bright in the lead roles was central to the film’s approach. Their on-screen rapport was built through months of workshops, according to production notes, allowing the actors to develop a shared physical and emotional vocabulary. This preparation is evident in scenes that rely on body language and silence - moments where a glance carries more weight than dialogue. The supporting cast, including Iryna Mak as Maryna and Viktor Zhdanov as Vasyl, provides a network of family and friends whose reactions range from support to confusion, reflecting the broader society’s grappling with change.

The film was shot partially in Ukraine and partially in neighboring countries, with Stever and her crew navigating the logistical challenges of filming during active conflict. Some exterior shots were completed before the full-scale invasion, while interior and safer location scenes were filmed afterward, giving the movie a layered visual texture that mirrors its thematic complexity. The production faced frequent interruptions due to air raid alarms and power outages, which the director later described as an ironic rehearsal for the film’s own themes of interrupted intimacy and fractured normality.

Context and Release

As the film makes its way to screens, it enters a crowded field of war-related titles, but I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming distinguishes itself through its focus on LGBTQ+ experiences within that context. The movie does not treat the war as mere backdrop; rather, it uses the conflict to heighten the couple’s internal struggles, questioning what it means to build a future when the present is so precarious. The decision to release the film in August 2026, more than four years after the invasion began, allows audiences to view the story with some historical perspective, though the themes of displacement and self-acceptance remain timely.

The production team has emphasized that the film is not a documentary but a work of fiction inspired by a mosaic of testimonies. This creative choice allows for a more universal exploration of love under pressure, while still grounding the story in specific, recognizable details - from the sound of distant explosions to the bureaucratic hurdles of changing documents during wartime.

While the film has yet to receive audience scores, with its TMDb rating currently at zero, early festival screenings have generated conversation for its unflinching yet tender portrayal of its subjects. Critics have noted Stever’s ability to balance the political with the personal, avoiding the pitfalls of either propaganda or escapism.

The Bigger Picture

For audiences unfamiliar with the nuances of gender transition, the film offers an accessible entry point, focusing on the emotional reality rather than medical or legal specifics. For those who have lived through similar experiences, the movie aims to provide a reflection of their own stories rarely seen on screen. The title’s melancholic tone suggests a certain resignation, but the film’s final act reportedly offers a glimmer of hope - a quiet affirmation that even in the darkest times, the act of dreaming, however rare, remains possible.

As I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming prepares for its theatrical debut, it joins a growing body of work examining the intersection of war and personal identity. Its release on August 9 will give viewers a chance to witness a story that is both deeply Ukrainian and universally human.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter