TOXIC

In the organizer's words:

LTU 2024, Feature film, 99 min, FSK 16

Director: Saulė Bliuvaitė

with: Ieva Rupeikaitė, Vesta Matulytė, Giedrius Savickas

Language: OmU (Lithuanian with German subtitles)

Content Notes: 2, 1, 8, 14, 9

Note: This film deals with issues related to eating disorders and body image problems.

Teenage Marija spends the summer with her grandmother in an industrial area in the Lithuanian hinterland. She is quickly bullied because of her walking disorder and gets into a fight with Kristina, a girl of the same age who, like many other girls in this remote area, attends a modeling school. Marija soon joins the cult-like institution. As an intimate friendship develops between Marija and Kristina, the girls fall into an ever-accelerating spiral in which they abuse their bodies in extreme ways.

Based on her own experiences, director Saulė Bliuvaitė, born in 1994, reveals the toxic structures of an exploitative, patriarchal society that many young women have to contend with. The female body becomes a currency, an object that can be manipulated, a hope for a last escape route from a situation without any chance. TOXIC is characterized by an intimate emotionality and draws its fascination from the contrast between the ugliness of a dreary everyday life and the beauty of genuine humanity and affection.

Note: This film deals with topics related to eating disorders and body image issues and includes depictions of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. This content may be distressing for people with an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders.
Counseling centers: www.bundesfachverbandessstoerungen.de / www.bzga-essstoerungen.de
Anonymous and free online counseling: www.ANAD-dialog.de
(Note created in cooperation with ANAD-dialog.)

ENG: Note: This film deals with topics related to eating disorders and body image problems and includes depictions of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. This content could be stressful for people with an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders.

Teenager Marija spends the summer with her grandmother in an industrial area in the hinterland of Lithuania. There, she meets Kristina, who, like many other girls in this remote area, attends a modeling school. Marija soon joins the cult-like institution. Based on her own experiences, director Saulė Bliuvaitė, born in 1994, reveals the toxic structures of an exploitative, patriarchal society that many young women have to struggle with. The female body becomes currency, a manipulable object - or perhaps the last escape from a hopeless situation?
TOXIC is characterized by an intimate emotionality and draws its fascination from the contrast between the ugliness of dreary everyday life and the beauty of genuine humanity and affection. (Lithuanian with German subtitles)

Price information:

- 7.00 € (regular) - 5.50 € (reduced*) - 3.50 € (with Leipzig Pass, disabled pass, volunteer pass) - Films longer than 130 min: + 1.00 € - Tickets are available online (plus € 0.70 booking fee), remaining tickets at the Box Office.