The Virgin Suicides

2000

1h 37m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

3.5K

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99+ Images

Drama

Romance

A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents.

Directors

Sofia Coppola

Writers

Jeffrey Eugenides(novel by)

Sofia Coppola(screenplay by)

Stars

Kirsten Dunst

Josh Hartnett

James Woods

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Top cast

Lux Lisbon

Trip Fontaine

Mr. Lisbon

Mrs. Lisbon

Adult Trip Fontaine

Mary Lisbon

Cecilia Lisbon

Therese Lisbon

Bonnie Lisbon

Narrator (voice)

Chase Buell

David Barker

Paul Baldino

Parkie Denton

Tim Weiner

Father Moody

Dr. Horniker

Jake Hill Conley

Directors

Sofia Coppola

Writers

Jeffrey Eugenides(novel by)

Sofia Coppola(screenplay by)

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Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

***Artistic, profound, amusing, tragic, haunting coming-of-age in the 70s*** A 13 year-old girl from a Catholic family in a Detroit suburb commits suicide during the late 70s and its effects are shown over the course of the next year in the lives of her four sisters (e.g. Kirsten Dunst), her parents (James Woods & Kathleen Turner) and the boys of the community. Josh Hartnett is on hand as the school stud who’s interested in Lux (Dunst). "The Virgin Suicides" (1999) was Sofia Coppola’s debut film based on the book by Jeffrey Eugenides; she would go on to great success with “Lost in Translation” (2003) and the underrated “Marie Antoinette” (2006). To be expected, Sofia’s style is similar to her father, as well as Peter Weir, but maybe more focused on feminine themes. The tone of the movie is artsy and deep, but not without a sense of humor. It’s haunting, mysterious, beautiful and impenetrable, reminiscent of Weir’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975). There’s also a great 70’s soundtrack featuring well-placed songs by The Hollies, Heart, Styx, Todd Rundgren and 10cc. The subtext on parental legalism brings to mind “Footloose” (1984), but it’s clear that the blame can’t be placed solely at the feet of the parents, who are certainly overprotective but also clearly loving to a degree. Cecilia’s rash actions are the catalyst and the domino effect comes into play coupled with the oppression of stifling legalism and perhaps passive revenge. At the end of the day, though, it comes down to just a stupid decision by teenagers. Yet the movie’s about way more than suicide and its causes. It’s about coming-of-age, seeking identity & a voice, coming-of-death and the haunting reflections of those that remain. The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes and was shot in Toronto. GRADE: A-/B+

Wuchak03 Jun, 2019