AKIPLĖŠA
Lithuania

Nominated for European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI 2024

Dreaming of an escape from the bleakness of their hometown, two teens form a unique bond at a local modelling school, where the promise of a better life pushes girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways.

Written & directed by: Saulė Bliuvaitė
Produced by: Giedre Burokaite
Cinematography: Vytautas Katkus
Editing: Igne Narbutaite
Production Design: Paulius Aničas
Costume Design: Aura Narmontaitė
Make-Up & Hair: Jurgita Globytė
Original Score: Gediminas Jakubka
Sound: Julius Grigelionis
Visual Effects: Vytautas Kazlauskas
Casting: Ugne Siauciunaite
Cast: Ieva Rupeikaite (Kristina), Vesta Matulyte (Marija), Giedrius Savickas (Šarūnas), Vilma Raubaite (Vilma), Egle Gabrenaite (Roma)

Statement of the director:
TOXIC follows the lives of young girls navigating through toxic landscapes, toxic beauty standards, and toxic relationships. As I myself grew up in a bleak industrial area, I was living with the thought of escaping – not just from my surroundings, but also from my body. I was very thin, trying to enrol in modelling agencies around my town, but I was constantly told some parts of my body were too big to fit the standard. I kept pursuing it, seeking validation in places where I couldn’t find any. This film is based on my own experiences as a 13-year-old girl and on the events that unfolded around me at that time.
The core subject of this film is the human body. It explores the ways we relate to our bodies and deal with our imperfections.
The way the body is a product, currency, an object of desire, the way the body is a human being, a unique creation. Tackling this subject through teenage characters, I aim to paint a picture of beauty, finding its way into a harsh and toxic environment.

Production:
Akis Bado
https://akisbado.com

World Sales:
Bendita Film Sales
https://btafilms.com