The Stain is a psychological drama that delves into the complexities of familial obligation, repression, and self-acceptance, all within the framework of what is often referred to as the “Good Daughter Syndrome.” Viktoria, the protagonist, is a woman who has spent her life trying to meet the overwhelming expectations of her parents—being the perfect daughter, maintaining success, and preserving a flawless image. This deep-rooted need for validation has shaped every aspect of her identity, from her thriving company to her spotless, apartment. Yet beneath the surface, she is collapsing under the weight of unresolved family trauma.
At the center of the story is a literal and symbolic stain that appears in Viktoria’s otherwise pristine home—a representation of the past she has tried to erase. The stain embodies her family’s refusal to acknowledge deep-seated dysfunction, and Viktoria’s internalised sense of duty to carry their emotional baggage. The film explores the tension between her external life of control and success and the internal chaos she can no longer suppress.
The question of whether Viktoria can liberate herself from this inherited burden lies at the heart of the film.
WILD GEESE
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
mary oliver.
Logline: Viktoria, a successful yet fragile woman, struggles to maintain her perfect life while grappling with a dark family trauma. One day she discovers a huge stain in her spotless apartment, and does everything it takes to get rid of it. As her obsession with removing the stain deepens, she must confront the emotional chains of her past. Will Viktoria finally rid herself of the stain—and embrace her true self?
