Home / Arts and Entertainment / Brit List Script Explores Shocking True Story of 1920s Hungarian Husband Poisonings
Brit List Script Explores Shocking True Story of 1920s Hungarian Husband Poisonings
6 Nov
Summary
- Bethan Moore's script "The Widow Making Syndicate" based on true 1920s Hungarian murders
- Village knitting club poisoned over 130 abusive husbands with arsenic
- Script explores whether the women's actions were justified
In 2025, British writer Bethan Moore's script "The Widow Making Syndicate" has gained attention on The Brit List, a ranking of the best unproduced UK film and TV projects. The script, which Moore wrote as her graduation project at the UK's National Film and Television School, is based on a true story from 1920s Hungary.
According to the script, a village knitting club in early 20th century Hungary took matters into their own hands, poisoning over 130 of their abusive husbands with arsenic. The ringleader, a young woman named Zsofi Kovacs, was put on trial and faced the death penalty. However, the script explores whether the women's actions were truly unjustified, given the lack of support and resources available to them at the time.
Moore, who spent much of her childhood abroad, was drawn to the story's exploration of the "Hungarian female spirit" and the desperation that can drive people to extreme measures. The script is described as a parody of the time period, blending black comedy and drama to shed light on a little-known historical incident.
