A percentage of the donations we collect for Thief will be allocated to Postpartum Support International (PSI).
A Little Bit About PSI
Postpartum Support International (PSI) was founded in 1987 by Jane Honikman in Santa Barbara, California. The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum.
Approximately 15% of all women will experience postpartum depression following the birth of a child. Up to 10% will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy. When the mental health of the mother is compromised, it affects the entire family.
PSI headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon, and has members all over the world, including volunteer coordinators in every one of the United States and in more than 36 other countries. PSI disseminates information and resources through its volunteer coordinators, website and annual conference. Its goal is to provide current information, resources, education, and to advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health.
Why We Chose PSI
We are absolutely behind Postpartum Support International and their goal of raising awareness and providing a plethora of information and service for members of the family who want to get help, regardless of where they find themselves on whatever spectrum — moms, dads, family members, queer and trans parents, and military families.
On top of that, PSI has online options that allow you to chat with experts, join online weekly support meetings, and even sign up to a peer mentor program where moms and dads in need of support are paired with a trained volunteer who has also experienced and fully recovered from a Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMD).
Synopsis of Thief
Post-natal depression. What do you know about it? Not much? Exactly. In making Thief, we invited women to put their voices to the largely undivulged experience of post-natal depression with the promise of anonymity, on one condition: speak candidly.
Thief is a characterization of all the stories collected. Expressed through the refreshingly raw views of four women from different walks of life.
Written and directed by Kristina Pakhomova
Thief is based on real stories about post-natal depression. Framed as an interview via WhatsApp audio messages conducted by the author, a conversation becomes a confession of 3 women about their challenging and dark experiences of motherhood. In making Thief, we invited women to put their voices to the largely undivulged experience of post-natal depression with the promise of anonymity, on one condition: speak candidly. Thief is a characterization of all the stories collected. Expressed through the views of four women from different walks of life. Fictional, but refreshingly raw.
“...So many fears… I need to protect her from so many things...And teach her so many things. Before, I only taught myself. Why nobody warned or said how awful this is going to be? I feel cheated…”
CAST
Helen: Emma Wood
Tasha: De Xin Chia
Poline: Sophia Assaadi
Husband: Jon Cancio
Mother: Irina Anderson
Kristina Pakhomova as herself
COMPOSER | SOUND DESIGNER | SOUND ENGINEER
Jack Burmeister
Jack Burmeister is a composer who is passionate about finding synergy between his work and other forms of media, believing that music should work to heighten the viewer’s overall experience.
Inspired by composers such as Jeremy Zuckerman (Avatar the Last Airbender) and Jessica Curry (Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture), Jack uses elements of orchestral, acoustic, electronic, and choral textures to create diverse sonic soundscapes to enhance the atmosphere and mood in any given work. Melody is a key musical characteristic that Jack explores; working to build and enhance melodic devices over the duration of a piece.
Jack’s previous work include composing music and sound design for Mongrel (2021) at The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), sound designer for GABAN (2021) and contributing composer to Interdisciplinary Dance Project (2021). His work has been featured in the Grainger Museum’s exhibition of Fabric Culture (2019) and his work has been installed in the Alfred Hospital’s COVID-19 vaccination centres.
Thief beautifully and honestly encapsulates the complexities of motherhood, exploring the raw emotions that many women experience around post-natal depression. It was an honour to work on a show that approaches this subject matter and exploring the sound worlds of Thief was an absolute joy. I hope you enjoy the show!
A Message from the Author
Motherhood is not just about love, happiness, patience, appreciations, laughter and giggles. It can feel, especially in the first few months, frustrating, tiring, lonely, isolating, painful, pointless, boring, the list goes on. And with that comes a lot of guilt and a loooot of self-pressure, as well as pressure from the society.
“Why am I feeling this way? I just had a healthy beautiful baby, why don’t I feel happy ? “
We think that there is something wrong with us because of such thoughts and feelings. Thus, we are scared to share our feelings with others for fear of being judged and/ or misunderstood.
I had my challenging moments after giving birth. Wasn't sure if I had post-natal depression, although I can’t definitely say I didn’t, but it was hard. At some point I felt like I wanted to quit. I told my mom that I am not enjoying this. That this “mom” thing is not for me. Can’t say I felt fully heard and supported.
Looking back, I ask myself what would have helped me through it? What would have allowed me to relax and be a bit more chill?
I found an answer. It would have been to hear another woman share their feelings of vulnerability with me. “You know, Kristina, I’m also not enjoying it. I'm not enjoying being a mom. I’m bored, I’m tired, I just want to quit. But I can’t. Because I love my baby. Of course I do. But sometimes I just feel like I want to be alone, by myself without anyone touching or talking to me. I love my baby but sometimes I don’t. I am so fucking lost and confused. I have no clue what I’m doing.”
If I had heard this more often in my daily life even before getting pregnant, I would, when the shit hit the fan for me, have felt more NORMAL and relaxed.
Because it is NORMAL! Giving birth is such a big change. Everything changes. You change forever. You will never be the same. It’s not bad, but it’s true, it is massive change.
I just think there should be a more open conversation about motherhood being fucking hard, and at times boring and frustrating. Not all lovey dovey, God blessing, the meaning of life, happy kind of thing.