In the world of documentaries, it’s not easy to standout in the crowd. That said, we were taken with Joe Hill‘s documentary about a troupe of dancers in Ukraine. His film, Match In A Haystack, is intimate, well-crafted and tells a unique story amid a war that affects all aspects of these citizen’s lives.
Hill’s eye for story and capturing the moment has made his work noteworthy, whether it is in the mountains, the arctic, or a war-torn country. He has extensive experience directing documentary projects, and he’s also a cinematographer and producer. That aids in his ability to share a cohesive and compelling slice of life of a great many people or just one individual’s journey.
Our chat addressed some of the many feelings and situations that the dancers (specifically the three leads Yuliia, Gala, and Nadiya) faced while trying to put this performance together. And it asks a lot of questions we aren’t qualified to answer, simply because we’re not going through it. Does art matter in times of war? Can anything change by doing this? Will we make it to the end? But it’s still very palatable and relatable. Moreover, you can feel the emotion in their dancing, the story they are tying to tell, and why it’s important to them.
There’s a lot to take in, so we’ll keep this brief. Enjoy this episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience and be sure to check out the film theatrically or on streaming when you are able. Info below.
MATCH IN A HAYSTACK was directed by 5X Emmy-winner Joe Hill and executive produced by Misty Copeland. The film was co-produced with VICE News with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting with an original score by Ukrainian-American composer Katya Richardson (The Last Repair Shop).
Follow Joe Hill on Instagram as well as the indie studio behind the film to keep up with the release schedule (including a forthcoming Ukraine premiere). You can get more info at the doc’s official website: https://www.dangerouscompany.media/
