Dreaming of escaping the desolation of their hometown, two teenage girls form a unique bond at a local modeling school, where the promise of a better life drives the girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways. I met director Saule Bliuvaite at the New York Baltic Film Festival at Scandinavian House after the screening of “Toxic,” and as I write this review, 2 days later, it’s clear she’s an auteur! Slow tracking shots capture the small, post-Soviet Lithuanian industrial landscape of broken-down junk cars. But with exciting characters playing basketball, fixing cars, modeling, drinking, kissing, and searching for a life outside of the post-Soviet past. In speaking with Saule, I referenced Kids (Dir. Larry Clark) written by Harmony Korine which explores the same coming-of-age themes but in the context of the varied setting of New York. Despite the stark difference in the gender of the main characters and their emotional goals. Their journeys are identical, seeking comfort and affection or parental guidance in TOXIC environments: alcohol, cigarettes, sex and parental absence. Go see it - not for the drama but for the clean cinematic aura of naked bodies (sauna scene) but for the desire... The desire to be in tune with your parents, your neighbors, your grocer but most importantly with your evolving teenage self in an ever-changing or non-changing socio-economic landscape. I'm not a dad - but after seeing 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 :-)