QUICK AND DIRTY: LIVE FROM TALLINN

The Lithuanian city of Siauliai, the country’s former capital of bicycles, enters the new era to the rhythm of ear-tearing beats of Two Unlimited, Culture Beat and the likes in the early 1990s. For Rimants (Dziugas Grinys), a teenager interested in not more than girls, rugby and making quick money on the black market, it is the city of Van Dammes and Schwarzeneggers, full of enthusiasts who “come outta gyms thinking they live in some film where they’re the main dude”. The main protagonist is jokingly warning big movie stars about Siauliai, the true centre of action. He is not all that wrong. A lot is going on on the streets: foreign currency is traded for profit, goods that either were forged or purchased for peanuts are being re-sold, and there is general excitement about the beginning of a new chapter for the freshly restored state.

At first glance, Rimants is not so different from the lot he is laughing at. He is a “boys will be boys” hormonal type of guy who is walking with his arms out like he were stung by a swarm of bees under the armpits, and who more than often shows his not-so-sweet side of personality. It will take a while to realize that there is more to him than that. And that something will suprise himself as well.

Southern Chronicles is based on the eponymous best-seller written by Rimantas Kmita, the native of Siauliai whose depiction of his hometown and the young generation living in the times of big changes proves to be unique regarding its setting, and universal when it comes to its core plot which is a straight outcoming-of-age tale with a vintage charm. Behind the novel’s adaptation is the Lithuanian writer| helmer Egle Vertelyte (she is Tallinn with her sophomore feature film “Tasty” that also premieres in the Baltic Competition) who kept the spirit of the novel and its satirical tone while additionally putting more accent on the main protagonist’s maturation and discovery of his hidden artistic potential. More than anything, the script mirrors a very special chapter in Lithuanian history through the eyes of the youth from a small town, who create their microcosmos with a vibrant music scene. Southern Chronicles offers the possibility to discover a couple of local bands, some of them seen performing “live” in nightclubs.

The classical boy-meets-girl trope gets infused with fresh ideas, and Rimant’s love for the educated middle-class girl Monika (Digna Kulionyte) becomes essential for his transformation from an instincts-driven lad to a book buff and poet. Ignas Miskin’s engaging teenage drama presents us with a couple of welcome twists, adding to the story’s credibility that almost feels unscripted and like something coming straight from a 17-year-old’s diary. The dialogues are penned with lightness, and the chaos ensued from unreciprocated feelings is shown from both the humorous and the tragic side. Generally, the film maintains a constant sense of authenticity. It appears to have been shot analogue with trickery skilfully pulled off by cinematographer Narvydas Naujalis who previously worked on Laurynas Bareisa’s “Pilgrims” (2021) and Andrius Blazevicius’ “The Runner.” Additionally, the inclusion of archival footage is so seamlessly edited that it can be challenging to distinguish between the ‘new’ and ‘old’ realities, especially when the protagonists blend into the shots of the past.

There is one shortcoming that deserves a mention. Casting actors in their late 20s to play teenagers is not unprecedented, but the director’s decision to cast Grinys, who appears to be much older, feels awkward at times. Nonetheless, he delivers an outstanding performance, and so does Robertas Petraitis who plays Rimant’s air-headed best friend Minde.

Southern Chronicles premiered in the Baltic Competition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.