Met 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!
The slow tracking shots capturing the post soviet industrial small Lithuanian landscape with broken down scrap cars. But with pulsating characters who play basketball, fix cars, model, drink, kiss and seek a life outside the post Soviet block past.
When speaking to Saule I referenced Kids (Dir. Larry Clark) written by Harmony Korine that explores the same themes of coming-of-age but in the backdrop of NYC's varied mise-en-scene.
Despite the stark difference in the lead characters gender and emotional objectives. Their journey's are identical seeking the solace and affection or parental guidance in TOXIC environments: booze, smokes, sex and parental absence.
Go see it - not for the drama but the bare bones stripped down cinematographic aura of naked bodies (sauna scene) but desire...
The desire to be in sync with your parents, your neighbors, your grocer but most importantly your teenage evolving self in a ever changing or non changing social-economic landscape.
I'm not a Dad - but after watching this I understand why my parents needed to know where I was after school.
To be continued Saule - thanks for taking the first Director / Fan photo with me at Scandinavia House. To be continued ... on Auteur Film Series :-)
