Rimantas Kmita

Rimantas Kmita’s “The Southern Chronicles” isn’t just another entry in the long list of coming-of-age dramas — nah, this one’s got a real kick to it. Set in the gritty neighborhoods of Šiauliai’s south side, the story pulls you right into the 1990s, Lithuania’s wild post-Soviet years, with all the chaos, hope, and low-key despair that came with the territory. The film doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Life here is raw, sometimes bleak, with characters hustling through economic uncertainty, sketchy side gigs, and that constant itch for something better. You can almost smell the asphalt, feel the bass from the block parties, and taste the cheap cigarettes — it’s all there. The main character, probably someone you’d walk past on the street without a second glance, turns out to be a poet at heart. He’s navigating broken family dynamics, loyal but wild friends, dreams that seem way too big for a gray city, and the constant lure of criminal shortcuts. But there’s a sharp wit to it all, a sense of humor that keeps things from sinking into pure misery. It’s not just about growing up — it’s about figuring out who you are when the world around you is changing faster than you can keep up. You’ll get a crash course in Lithuanian slang, street smarts, and maybe, if you’re paying attention, a little hope for the future. It’s messy, it’s real, and it doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. That’s what makes it stick with you.