A few months prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, five young women and men participate in a unique stage production that attempts to relate their war experiences to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. For each of them, the stage is a platform to express their grief and trauma through the famous question, “to be or not to be,” a dilemma that applies to their own lives.

The protagonists fight against disappointment, powerlessness, and anger, trying to put their lives back in order while processing their painful past: Slavic went through a hell of war and captivity as a soldier; Katya longs for her mother’s forgiveness for joining the army; Rodion escaped from Donbas and is now facing growing homophobia; Roman is still struggling with the traumatic memories of his war experience as a paramedic on the battlefield; and Oxana struggles on an artistic frontline as an actress. The rehearsals for the play are combined with an intense glimpse into the characters' lives: a powerful portrait of a generation coping with the trauma of war which, after Russia's invasion, is now their present and future alike.

-- Dir. Elwira Niewiera, Piotr Rosołowski - 85min - 2022 - Poland --

"Life, theatre and cinema blend into one for a moment turning into a thrilling psychodrama" - Krakow Film Festival, *Winner* - Best Polish Film

"This film brilliantly articulates Hamlet's dilemma for the Ukrainian youth. The film mediates their experiences of having to make hard choices when their options are very limited, because of a grinding war. A very elaborate filmic language forms a universal film“ - Locarno, *Winner*.- Semaine de la Critique, Grand Prix

"a many-layered, dense portrait of a torn and yet powerful Ukrainian generation" - DOK Leipzig

"What is the use of art in time of war? Shot a few months prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski’s documentary probes this thorny question with a searing intimacy....emotions are spilled on to the stage, performance becomes a conduit for personal catharsis as well as artistic expression." - Guardian

"essential viewing, as it opens the door to understanding, empathy and discourse, all of which can, in their own small way, alleviate the burden of the victims of war." - Modern Times Review

"a therapeutic vehicle for navigating psychological wounds and reintegrating the cast’s experiences into the nation’s collective memory." - The Film Verdict

"the artistic process is also harrowing, in which emotions are raw and memories of battle and/or incarceration shocking." - Business Doc Europe