Toxic + ScreenTalk
Two teenage girls enrol in a modelling school hoping to make a better life for themselves and escape the grip of poverty, whatever it takes, from Lithuanian director Saulė Bliuvaitė.
The newest gem in the canon of contemporary Lithuanian cinema, Toxic holds nothing back. With her brazenly defiant first film, Bliuvaitė shows us a teenage girl’s world like we’ve never seen it before.
Marija (Vesta Matulytė) and Kristina (Ieva Rupeikaitė) are best friends, both 13 years-old, and ready to take on the world. At the cusp of adulthood, they still play ball games, yet they dream of leaving their decaying hometown for a life of catwalks and beauty. A modelling school is like a playground, since your body pays the price of fun.
This audacious debut won Bliuvaitė three awards at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, including the main prize – the Golden Leopard.
UK Premiere:
Thu 29 May 2025,
18:10
Cinema 2
“An original exploration of familiar teen anxieties.”
“Impressively tough-minded debut feature.””
