In 2020, the Polish Constitutional Court issued a scandalous judgment on an issue in Poland. This caused thousands of women and men who supported them to take to the streets. During the most famous strikes, an American director with Polish roots, Bren Cukier, moved to the country on the Vistula River, who was then starting her studies at the Lodz Film School. What she witnessed made her decide to take up this topic as well.
The situation of Polish women moved her. They were the inspiration for the film
“Thursday” is just over a quarter of an hour long, with Maria as the main character. We meet her when she is preparing for a new role by reading the script. Her peace is disturbed by the sound of the bell. It’s a courier. The package she receives is to help her get out of the predicament of an unwanted pregnancy. She cannot count on the support of her boyfriend, mother or friend. She is completely alone in it. The camera accompanies her at every stage of the medical abortion, showing its difficult course, both physically and mentally.
The director has repeatedly emphasized that abortion is a possibility of choice, self-determination, and she also tried to show this by creating Czwartek. In an interview, she revealed that the story shown on the screen is “made up” of many authentic dilemmas and experiences of various women, which inspired the creation of a moving script. – My painting is not an instructional video. It’s fiction based on reality, he says.
At the same time, she emphasizes that the situation of Polish women is really dramatic and although the law allows abortion only in three cases, they are often underestimated by doctors. The case of one woman whose fetus died was particularly shocking. “They sent her back with a dead fetus inside,” Cukier recalled. She knew that by taking up this topic, she exposed herself to criticism from various circles and risk, but she was ready to bear the consequences in the name of a right idea. – If I were a Polish director, I would potentially destroy my career – she says.
The lead actress was shocked when preparing for the role. One of the stories belonged to her friend
The character of Maria on the screen was created by a woman who comes from a family with conservative values. Her relatives are against abortion. However, she herself has a different opinion on this matter, and preparing for the role only confirmed her beliefs that she has believed to be right for years. “It took me a long time to reformat my perspective. It’s a process that took years. The film Bren appeared at a time when I had already verified my worldview in many aspects, looked at many things individually – she said in an interview with . She admitted that the character creation stage was difficult for her in many ways. At that time, she listened to recordings of stories told by many women who had medical abortions. She recognized a familiar voice among them. “There were many women of all ages. I recognized the voice of my friend among them and realized that it could also be my story – she recalled.
So far, “Thursday” has been shown at several film festivals. In Poland, the premiere took place during the 63rd Krakow Film Festival, which lasts from May 28 to June 4, 2023. Abroad, the shows took place, e.g. during Oscar qualifying events, including Santa Barbara Film Festival and RiverRun International Film Festival in North Carolina.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
