The theme of humanity has intrigued me for quite some time, as I began developing the treatment for this screenplay back in my second year of studies. Over time, the idea evolved, new perspectives, themes, and plotlines emerged, but one element remained constant – the desire to explore the theme of humanity through the unexpected birth of tolerance between a homosexual and a homophobe. This topic is important to me, especially when considering how certain groups are hated, attacked, or ridiculed due to irrational beliefs or a lack of understanding. Such “dehumanization” happens not just because of sexual orientation, but also due to nationality, religion, race, and similar factors. Often, minorities are targeted with hatred, without any understanding of who they are as individuals. We are far more than these labels, yet at the same time, we are all equal and have the same right to live and exist as we are, no matter what people like Rolandas might think. In this story, Rolandas harbors hatred towards the employees and patrons of a gay bar in his neighborhood, believing they don’t deserve to live. One night, his grim “prophecy” seems to come true when he finds a brutally beaten young man dressed in women’s clothing in his apartment building’s stairwell. But this raised a question for me – how would someone like Rolandas, who desired such an outcome, actually react in this situation? Would he still see Klaudijus as an unclear enemy, or as a fellow human being?
This led to long discussions with a playwright, as well as with friends and people who have encountered similar situations. Through these conversations, the plot took shape. Essentially, Rolandas, who has spent his entire life being taught to hate “people like that,” must undergo a significant transformation to allow himself to see the human in one such person. This story is personal and relevant to me, particularly because I grew up in a small town where such topics were rarely discussed. I met and got to know people whose own parents rejected them, mocked them, and forced them to hide or live in fear of coming out. Growing up in a Christian town, I witnessed rejection and bullying not only from classmates or teachers, but even from the monks teaching at the school. By telling this story, I hope to inspire reflection and empathy, encouraging others to see beyond prejudice.