'Match in a Haystack'

What happens when war renders your life's pursuits seemingly meaningless?

The documentary Match in a Haystack follows eight members of Ukraine’s most innovative female contemporary dance group as members navigate being young artists when their country is at war.

For many Ukrainian artists, Russia’s invasion is about more than just territory—it’s an attempt to erase Ukrainian identity. However, artists are divided on how to respond. While some believe it’s their duty to continue creating, others feel that self-expression is futile in the face of war.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, some dancers practiced their art alone, out of desperation for an emotional outlet. Others abandoned dance completely in exchange for volunteer work or the armed forces. As the war dragged on, though, dance began to take on a new meaning: resilience, support, release.

In Match in a Haystack, members of the dance group decide to perform together for the first time since the war began. The women provide a tangible, multifaceted portrait of how it feels to cope, adapt, and grow when war threatens not only their country, but also their identity.