Russia & Middle East: “Dance with Monsters” in theaters

Writing a film about traumatic violence and its resolution through dance is a challenging undertaking, so it is all the more gratifying to see that this film has resonated with people in so many different countries. As the writer and director, I am naturally delighted that “Dancing with Monsters” is now also being shown in Russia as part of the “German-Russian Film Days Vratzke” and in Syria at the Slemani International Film Festival. The Slemani International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in the Middle East. “Dance with Monsters” is about growing up in war, living with trauma, and finding oneself through dance. The fact that this film is resonating in a country that has actually suffered from war and incredible violence touches me deeply, and it is an incredible joy that the film is being shown at a festival that wants exactly what our main character does: to find beauty in art—despite, or perhaps precisely because of, unspeakable violence.