The war in Ukraine has profoundly affected the young generation since 2014. A few months prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, five young women and men participated in a unique stage production that likened their war experiences to Hamlet’s dilemma.

For each of them, the stage is a platform on which they can pour out their grievances and troubles through Hamlet’s question, “to be or not to be,” reflecting a dilemma that applies to their own lives.

The Hamlet Syndrome evolves as a documentary portraying a vibrant young generation trying to put their lives back in order while being compelled in the complex process to digest their trauma-inducing experiences.

The Hamlet Syndrome was supported through Elwira Niewiera’s 2021 Chicken & Egg Award.