ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
In The Shadow of the Flag is a reflection on personal loss, an investigation into movement and creativity as therapy, and follows military veterans seeking a sense of tribe in the civilian world as they build a major dance piece, inspired by their personal narratives, with Los Angeles based Diavolo Dance Theatre.

SYNOPSIS
Emmy nominated Filmmaker Adam Matalon investigates a powerful story of redemption through the lens of a major movement piece inspired by the personal narratives of a group of military veterans and driven by the creative vision of Jacques Heim artistic director Diavolo Dance Theatre, Architecture in Motion. IN THE SHADOW OF THE FLAG honors the personal sorrows that buffet these veterans as they face civilian life after service.

Using dance as a mechanism, the film weaves the personal stories of this military group. The film blends vérité rehearsal footage with beautiful performance video from the Kennedy Center Washington DC, and emotionally bare interviews that peel back the layers and reveal what it means to wear the cloth of a United States military service member.

Since the summer of 2017, Jacques Heim and his team of accomplished dancers have been building a movement piece that integrates military veterans and a small group of professional company members. At its core, the veterans project, as it’s known at Diavolo, is more than dance; it’s about creating a new civilian tribe for these veterans. In the civilian world many veterans face substantial challenges and lack a sense of community. For many this isolation leads to addictions, depression and thoughts of suicide, now at a catastrophic high in the warrior class. This film and the veterans project is about building connections between people and creating a safe place to open their hearts.

This is not another PTSD film. It’s about military service, a diminishing warrior class, an investigation of the thank you for your service culture and a film about the power of music and dance.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Adam Matalon
PRODUCER Adam Matalon, Clare Baren, Jacques Heim