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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brings back dark memories of 1930s Europe for Ariane Mnouchkine, the 84-year-old theater director and founder of the prestigious Théâtre du Soleil in Paris. Against this backdrop and in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance, Mnouchkine decides to put together a theater workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Twelve days of intensive training bring together hundreds of Ukranian actors — amateurs, students, and professionals from all over the country — to try their hand at Mnouchkine’s unique form of improvisational theater. With little more than a rehearsal room, yellow curtain, and a few costumes, the actors will create their own island of artistic expression.

But what use is art in times of war? This question looms over the documentary as it weaves together scenes from rehearsals and conversations with Ukranians about the reality of Russia’s invasion. We hear from an actress whose husband has been sent to fight on the front lines and see daily alerts for Russian drones encircling Ukraine airspace. In one particularly harrowing scene, we accompany some of the actors as they traverse through city ruins to visit a memorial to victims of the Bucha massacre.

Amidst the shadow of violence and loss, the theater troupe becomes a rare site of freedom and creative experimentation, allowing the actors to express feelings of tenderness, anger, joy, and love. Resisting both defeatism and naïve optimism, Kyiv Theater: An Island of Hope is an essential and timely exploration of what it means to create art in times of war.