Overview

• ‘Toxic’ won the prestigious Golden Leopard at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, marking a strong debut for director Saulė Bliuvaitė.
• The film explores the exploitation of teenage girls in post-Soviet Lithuania, focusing on two 13-year-olds lured by promises of modeling careers.
• Graphic depictions of extreme body modification, including self-harm and body horror, highlight the toxic pressures of beauty standards.
• Cinematographer Vytautas Katkus employs a striking 4:3 format and surreal imagery to underscore the film’s themes of decay and desperation.
• Rooted in Bliuvaitė’s personal experiences, the film critiques socioeconomic decline and youth emigration in rural Lithuania since EU accession.