The Virgin Suicides

2000 Drama

A dark comedy punctuated by moments of drama, The Virgin Suicides explores the emotional underpinnings of a family starting to come apart at the seams in 1970's Midwestern America. The Lisbons seem like an ordinary enough family; Father (James Woods) teaches math at a high school in Michigan, Mother (Kathleen Turner) has a strong religious faith, and they have five teenage daughters, ranging from 13-year-old Cecilia (Hannah Hall) to 17-year-old Therese (Leslie Hayman). However, the Lisbon family's sense of normalcy is shattered when Cecilia falls into a deep depression and attempts suicide. The family is shaken and Mother and Father seek the advice of psychiatrist Dr. Hornicker (Danny DeVito), who suggests the girls should be allowed to socialize more with boys. However, boys soon become a serious problem for Cecilia's sister Lux (Kirsten Dunst). Lux has attracted the eye of a high-school Romeo named Trip (Josh Hartnett), who assures Father of his good intentions. But Cecilia finally makes good on her decision to kill herself, throwing the Lisbons into a panic; and after attending a school dance, Trip seduces and then abandons Lux. The Lisbons pull their daughters out of school, as an emotionally frayed Mother keeps close watch over them. Meanwhile, Lux continues to attract the attentions of the local boys, and she responds with a series of clandestine sexual episodes with random partners as often as she can sneak out of the house. The debut feature from Sofia Coppola (whose father, Francis Ford Coppola, co-produced this film), The Virgin Suicides also features supporting performances from Scott Glenn and Giovanni Ribisi. The film was shown as part of the Directors Fortnight series as the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. more..

Director: Sofia Coppola

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Josh Hartnett, Hanna Hall

Reviews

  • Bewitching.

    Rita Kempley - The Washington Post

    20 January 2013

  • (Coppola) has the courage to play it in a minor key.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    20 January 2013

  • From start to finish there's a shimmer of discovery about it - our discovery of it, Coppola's discovery of how much she can do.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    20 January 2013

  • Coppola gives Suicides a haunted quality that is undeniably affecting, a feeling intensified by a wonderfully funny and touching Dunst.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    20 January 2013

  • Coppola infuses her movie with a dreamy poetic tone, and deftly translates the essential metaphors of youth, sexuality and death without sacrificing an earthy humor.

    Peter Stack - The San Francisco Chronicle

    20 January 2013

Awards

  • Best Soundtrack

    Brit Awards (2001)

     
  • Best Casting for Feature Film, Independent

    Casting Society of America (2000)

  • Best Original Score

    Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (2001)

     
  • Best Screenplay - Adapted

    Chlotrudis Awards (2001)

     
  • Best Debut

    Empire Awards, UK (2001)