The emerging wave of young Lithuanian cinema is edging closer to a global breakthrough, with debut director Saulé Bliuvaité at the forefront thanks to her remarkable film Toxic, which earned the Golden Leopard at Locarno this year. At first glance, the film presents as a coming-of-age drama about teenage girls in a bleak Lithuanian province. However, even the film’s layered title hints at the deeper complexities of a tainted world. The story follows 13-year-old Marija (Vesta Matulyte), who is sent to live with her grandmother in a small Lithuanian town where the bleak industrial backdrop is dominated by cooling towers and high-voltage pylons. Marija's status as a newcomer and her physical disability make her the victim of bullying. She meets the wild Kristina (Ieva Rupeikaite), with whom she gets into a fierce fight over a pair of jeans. This negative energy soon develops into a deep friendship between the girls, who try to build a modeling career but eventually slip into a maelstrom of bulimia and violence Toxic is a vibrant film that captures the fears and dreams of today's teenagers in Eastern Europe, while highlighting the challenges they face. Director Saulé Bliuvaité, who tell about her own teenage experiences, shows the talent with handling complex issues shown in the film with sensitivity and respect. Without a doubt Toxic is the most important feature debut of this year.