On the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine, stands Kuyalnyk Sanatorium—a large 1970s building that’s part hotel and part medical retreat. Each summer, thousands of Ukrainians travel to the sanatorium, drawn by Soviet-era therapies and the chance to relax beside the salt lake. The biggest attraction though, is the mysterious black mud, which is said to cure infertility, physical disabilities and various other ailments. 

Sanatorium takes us through a summer season at this unusual place, following the staff as they work hard to provide care, comfort and entertainment for visitors—even as the war rages nearby. For the guests, it's a time to seek healing, love and renewal. Despite the airstrikes close by, there’s something about the pastel pink and lime green halls of the sanatorium that keeps drawing people back. Maybe it’s the hope of rejuvenation or maybe it’s something hidden in the mud...