ARAS Presents: Do Good Mothers Make Good Films?

Being a mother who makes films in the Czech Republic means facing a patriarchal environment, lack of accessible childcare and people telling you what you should or should not do. Moreover, children are usually born in the most productive age and early childcare lasts three or more years. So can mothers even make good films? And can they still be good mothers to their children? The research Women in Film finds that the proportion of women in film professions is slightly over twenty percent. The Czech audiovisual industry is therefore still very patriarchal. In addition, Czech society sees childcare as solely women’s domain (98 % women on maternity leave). The pressure on what a proper mother should or should not do comes from conservative politicians or older generations. Add the capacity shortage in playgroups and nurseries and high prices of paid childcare – the development and production of auteur films are often underpaid. Moreover, early childcare comes at the most productive age, usually after studies, and takes three or more years. So what is it like to be a mother who makes films in the Czech Republic? And what does it take to balance childcare with mentally demanding and time-consuming profession?