On March 3, New York Baltic Film Festival at Scandinavia House presents a screening and director talk on the hit new Lithuanian coming-of-age film, The Southern Chronicles! Director Ignas Miškinis will be present for a film talk and Q&A about the film exploring a young man’s struggle with love and the future amid a newly independent 1990s Lithuania.

In a working-class neighborhood of the Lithuanian city of Siauliai, a few years after the restoration of the country’s independence, brawny 17-year-old Rimants (Džiugas Grinys) is on the cusp of adulthood. More interested in playing rugby, listening to bands and dealing on the black market with his friend Minde than studying at school — much to the disapproval of his parents — Rimants is certain that physical strength and money are the essentials for success in a changing, competitive society. But when he meets and falls in love with the beautiful, middle-class Monika, Rimants is introduced to a new world of literature, culture and alternative possibilities which he explores with guarded enthusiasm. However, frustrated by the difficult, fickle nature of young love and the ever-present obstacles of class, Rimants eventually casts aside the expectations of others and begins to contemplate a future on his own terms.

Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Rimantas Kmiti, The Southern Chronicles (Pietinia kronikas) was awarded Best Baltic Film at Tallinn Black Nights and is a portrait of a ’90s generation with a lot of humor, music and the special slang of Šiauliai.

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