The Virgin Suicides
Sofia Coppola’s (Lost In Translation) dreamy directorial debut follows five mysterious sisters growing up in a strict religious family in a Detroit suburb in the mid-1970s. The Virgin Suicides returns to cinemas in a restored 4K version.
In a quiet, conservative American town, Cecilia Lisbon, just thirteen, attempts suicide. She is one of five beautiful teenage sisters and this incident begins to unravel the lives of the entire family. The story is told from the point of view of the neighbourhood boys who are obsessed with these enigmatic sisters, and draws its dark humour from the fabric of teenage life. Little by little, the family begins to shut itself from friends and neighbours, and the girls are soon forbidden to go out. As the situation spirals downward, the boys plot to rescue the girls.
With this debut feature, Sofia Coppola announced her singular vision, exploring the aesthetics of femininity while illuminating the interior lives of young women. Evoking its 1970s suburban setting through ethereal cinematography by Ed Lachman and an atmospheric, almost psychedelic score by Air, and featuring a magnetic performance by Kirsten Dunst, the film secured a place for its director in the landscape of American independent cinema and has become a coming-of-age touchstone.