by Thomas Fürhapter
„It used to be down to fate whether you gave birth to a disabled child. Today you can choose if you want to keep it or not.“ The results of prenatal screening can present would-be parents with a very difficult dilemma. Should a physically or mentally disabled child be allowed to live – or not be brought into the world at all? Who gets to decide what is normal and worthy of life? The filmic essay DIE DRITTE OPTION puts a new perspective on a highly controversial topic: while we listen to the statements of doctors, those who carry out prenatal screenings and the disturbing experiences of the couples affected, the visual level places the topic in a much wider socio-political context.