To dance is to resist: queer life in wartime Ukraine

This week sees the return of one of the highlights of London’s cinematic calendar: BFI Flare, the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in Europe. One of the world premieres this year is To Dance is to Resist, a new documentary from German filmmaker and musician Julian Lautenbacher. Julian has spent five years travelling to Ukraine to document the personal and professional lives of Jay and Vol’demar, dancers in Kyiv’s vibrant underground queer club scene. His film captures a couple and a community finding their way through wartime hardship, juxtaposing striking scenes of dance performance with domestic portraits and visions of a capital city under attack.   Ahead of the festival, host Sam Goff spoke with Julian about his experiences working in Kyiv, the idea of dance culture as a form of resistance during invasion, and the cultural connections and contrasts between Germany and Ukraine.  Get tickets for screenings of To Dance is to Resist on 28 and 29 March here. BFI Flare runs from 18-29 March. Explore the festival programme here. Explore Klassiki’s queer film collection here.  Get in touch: [email protected]. Sign up for a free 7-day trial at klassiki.online.