The BIX rock bar in Vilnius was designed by Saulius Urbonavičius-Samas, the frontman of the cult rock band BIX, which was formed in Šiauliai in 1987. The same town was featured in “The Southern Chronicles”, the Lithuanian box-office hit which won PÖFF’s Baltic Competition last year. The film also used archival footage of BIX concerts from the 1990s to illustrate the time period.

This new story captures the free and playful essence of BIX’s rebellious spirit, which once led Samas and the band to West Berlin, where they shared a stage with Nirvana. Samas, a painter and karate fan, was followed and ‘re-educated’ by the KGB and helped spark the punk movement that protested against Soviet restrictions. Along with teacher Grikis and friends, they recorded forbidden songs away from the authorities.

Emilis Vėlyvis, known for his action comedies (including “The Generation of Evil”, which was shown at PÖFF in 2021), brings the band together again after 33 years. He hires an old bus, fills it with instruments and brings back the band’s famous stage prop – a giant inflatable piglet – for one final nostalgic outing in his creative documentary debut.

Edvinas Pukšta