Narration and Heroism in the Monodrama Letter to Brad Pittnek by Franciska Farkas

Abstract

This study examines the role of storytelling and the concept of heroism in Franciska Farkas’s monodrama, A Letter to Brad Pitt (2019). Farkas is a celebrated Romani actress in Hungary. In addition to her film and stage career, she is known for her work as an activist for equal opportunities for Romani women. In her play, she speaks about the low points of her own life, providing a critical view of the multiple forms of discrimination against Romani women in contemporary Hungarian society. Contrary to the victim narratives about Romani people, the play follows the tradition of the hero narratives and serves as a positive example and point of identification for disadvantaged Roma women. The study focuses on strategies of storytelling in Farkas’s play as an essential tool for reinforcing positive identification and drawing attention to social responsibility.