12/39
Dreaming of an escape from the gloom of their hometown, two teenagers form a unique bond at a local modeling school, where the promise of a better life pushes the girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways. With director Saule Bliuvaite, at the NYC Baltic Film Festival at Scandinavian House after the screening of “Toxic”; and as I write this review 2 days after it’s clear she’s an auteur! Slow-motion shots capture the small post-Soviet Lithuanian industrial landscape with old, broken-down cars. But with vibrant characters playing basketball, fixing cars, modeling, drinking, kissing, and searching for a life outside the post-Soviet bloc. When I spoke to Saule, I referenced Kids (Dir. Larry Clark), written by Harmony Korine, which explores the same coming-of-age themes, but against the backdrop of diverse New York City stage movements. Despite the stark difference in the main characters’ gender and emotional goals. Their journey is identical, seeking comfort and affection or parental guidance in TOXIC environments: booze, smoke, sex and parental absence. Go see it – not for the drama, but the bare bones stripped bare cinematic aura of naked bodies (sauna. scene), but the desire… The desire to be in sync with your parents, your neighbors, the grocer, but most importantly, the evolution of adolescence. me in an ever-changing or unchanging socio-economic landscape. I’m not a father – but after watching this, I understand why my parents needed to know where I was after school. Continued Saule – thanks for taking the first Director/fan Photography with me to Scandinavia House. Continued… to the auteur film series 🙂