Shaolin Rimas, the alter ego of author Rimantas Kmita, comes of age in a provincial market town. He dreams of making the star rugby team, idolises Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme for their martial arts skills, and embarks on a romantic quest to find his perfect match. Along the way, he discovers literature as a way to impress others, experiences the pain of bittersweet betrayal, enjoys an independent life to the fullest, and expresses his worldview with philosophical sarcasm.

The film is a masterclass in editing, with Loznitsa’s main collaborator Danielius Kokanauskis skilfully recreating the atmosphere of 1990s youth by mixing archive footage of concerts and street scenes with newly filmed actors. Lithuanian cult bands such as Bix, Foje and Sel are amusingly woven into a classic western disco soundtrack, including hits such as ‘It's My Life’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters’, which evoke nostalgic memories during ‘Wind of Change’.

Edvinas Pukšta