THYL

Directed by

Stas Savastseyeu

Short Film Based On A True Story & “The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak” By Charles De Coster

An emotionally numb actor, Steve, can't find sincerity for his lead role. On the eve of his premiere he turns to castmates for answers. However, each tries to push their own versions of happiness through religion, alcohol, dreams and love, only deepening Steve's void, until he finally discovers that being broken isn't the obstacle, but the last thing that feels real.

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“THYL” As The Author’s Personal Attempt To Be Truly Sincere In Cinema.

The film shows a dress rehearsal for the play “THYL”, but it isn’t really about theatre. “THYL” is about people who appear in our lives, turn everything upside down, and disappear, leaving us changed forever.

The main character, Steve, is an actor preparing for his premiere. Unexpectedly, his conflict lies not in the performance, but in the impossibility of being honest. Trapped in a constant act - lines, emotions, confidence, philosophy - he gradually realises that the dream he has been chasing might be nothing more than an illusion without inner truth.

“THYL” Is An attempt To Explore The Moment Of A Person Noticing Their Own Falseness For The First Time.

One idea lies at the heart of the film:

A Dream Without Honesty Becomes an Illusion.

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Sincerity Is Not Only About The Story, But Also About Visuals And The Use Of Space

Lots of scenes in this film take place in a brothel in the late Middle Ages. Therefore, the authenticity of this complex space is extremely important to us, as we aim to avoid an exaggerated or overly stylised portrayal of the Middle Ages and stay closer to reality. Our main goal is to present historically accurate sets.

Our set designers are professionals, committed to creating magic using high-quality replicas, fabrics, and the most period-accurate props.In this movie, every detail plays a huge role, and we can’t afford to miss anything!

Medieval Reenactors, This Time We Are Turning To You! Your Contribution Will Be Incredibly Helpful To Us.

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Real Story Behind “THYL”

The plot of the film is rooted in the director’s distant past. The main character, Steve, is who he once was.

“THYL” Is A Personal Reflection On Exsperiences Stas Lived Through Many Years Ago - Emotions And Feelings That Still Haunt Him.

As Stas admits, he has spent a significant part of his life living in emotional dissonance - between who he was inside and who he appeared to be to his family, his loved ones, and even himself.

Only one person was able to see through these illusions - his former director, Yasia, with whom he created the stage production “THYL”.

In the film, Yasia becomes a figure of Inner Truth. She sees Steve more clearly than anyone else.

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Creators

The director has already completed work on several short films. His latest work, “Niezabudka” (2025), which deeply moved the audience, was presented at the Northern Lights Film Festival.

The Camera Department is led by Patryk Dróżdż, an award-winning director of photography. He has made his feature debut with „Memento Mori” and is currently developing his narrative feature „Preludium”. Patryk gained international recognition for his work on the short film „Signal”, which received multiple awards for Best Cinematography at film festivals worldwide.

The film “THYL” is also being developed by the production team iNSPiRiA, consisting of three producers - Jakub Posłuszny, Vladyslava Syrota, and Ada Rudy. The team already has experience working on short films and has also produced a music video and an advertising campaign.

Of course, Production Design plays a special role in our team. It is led by Agata Śmiałko. The scenography department is headed by Viktoriia Korea, a specialist with a diverse professional background. In addition, the Key Makeup Artist is Małgorzata Wagner, and the Costume Designer is Dominika Kłyś-Malec.

The art department consists of 14 people in total. From the very beginning of pre-production, those people have been working hard on designing and recreating such a large-scale and highly detailed location as a brothel in the late Middle Ages, as well as on all props, costumes, and makeup it involves.

The styling of the extras plays an equally significant role. Just as every prop demands meticulous attention, everyone who appears on screen must be presented with careful visual consideration.

Despite the passion and full dedication of our designers, we still need your financial support. There are many things we can improve!

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Support Us!

The project “THYL” stands out as both an independent short film and a proof of concept for a future feature-length production.

We want to provide the team with the best possible conditions to create a unique project.

A Film That Reflects Historical Authenticity And Captures A Distinct Atmosphere.

That’s why we are reaching out for your support. Your financial contribution will allow us to execute this project at a high level, especially by giving greater creative freedom to production design - the work of set designers and costume designers.

We sincerely hope that this film will become a turning point for the director, as well as an important step in the development of the entire team.

Support Us And Help Us Achieve The Authenticity And Sincerity That Are So Important To Us!