27/13
Dreaming of escaping the gloom of their hometown, two teens form a unique bond at a local modeling school, where the promise of a better life forces the girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways. NYC Baltic director Saule Bliuvaite was there. Scandinavian House Film Festival after the film "Toxic" and as I write this review 2 days after it is clear that she is the author! Slow tracking shots capturing the post-Soviet industrial small Lithuanian landscape with damaged scrap cars. But with vibrant characters who play basketball, fix cars, model, drink, kiss and seek life beyond the past of the post-Soviet quarter. Speaking with Sauli, I refer to the film Kids (dir. Larry Clark), written by Harmonija Korina, which explores the same theme of adulthood, but against the backdrop of the diverse mise-en-scènes of New York. Despite the stark differences in the main characters gender and emotional goals. Their journey is identical, seeking comfort and affection or parental guidance in a TOXIC environment: alcohol, smoking, sex and parental absence. Go and watch it – not for the drama, but for the bare bones exposed by the cinematic aura of naked bodies (sauna scene), but for the desire… The desire to be in sync with your parents, neighbors, grocer, but most importantly with the development of a teenager in an ever-changing or unchanging socio-economic landscape. I’m not a dad – but after watching this I understand why my parents had to know where I was after school. To be continued Sun – thanks for taking the first Director / Fan photo with me at Scandinavia House. To be continued … in the auteur film series 🙂