Smalltown Miss (2022)

The short film is made by second year film students. It is based on a Lilli Luuk's novella “Kolhoosi miss” following a story of two young girls, their friendship and growing up in a 1988 Soviet smalltown in Estonia.

The story is set in a Soviet smalltown in Estonia in 1998 where everything begins to change with the arrival of a new hairdresser, who influences Liidia (15). The girl sees the ideal version of herself in the hairdresser - someone who dares to stand out, is independent and at the same time incredibly beautiful. For Liidia, these qualities mean an opportunity to leave home. During the film, Liidia's friend Miina (14) notices more and more changes in her friend, both external and internal. One night, however, she learns why Liidia actually wants to leave home - her mother is a violent alcoholic. It doesn't take long before Miina witnesses the last step of Liidia's transformation process - she finds the pictures that Liidia has taken of herself naked. At the end of the film, Liidia has disappeared. Did she really run away or is it a tragic end? It is up to Miina and the viewers to decide.

Keywords: becoming independent | hairdresser | domestic violence | Soviet time | girls | dreams | View all »