While passing through the ruins of post-war Germany, Rut recalls an earlier affair with married military officer Raoul.

Raoul forced her to abort their child, which resulted in complications, mainly Rut's infertility and her inability to continue her career as a dancer.

While Rut and Bertil travel home, the film shows Viola's escape from a sadistic psychiatrist, her encounter with Valborg, who openly tries to seduce her, and her final suicide.

Thirst was based on a short story collection published by Birgit Tengroth in 1948; Herbert Grevenius, who had already worked with Bergman on It Rains on Our Love, wrote the screenplay.

Bergman asked Tengroth to star in his film, who helped him in finding the right tone in the lesbian scene between Viola and Valborg.