The Virgin Suicides (1999)

A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents in suburban Detroit in the mid 1970s.

Director:

Sofia Coppola

Writers:

Jeffrey Eugenides (novel), Sofia Coppola

Stars:

Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, James Woods

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Mr. Lisbon
Kathleen Turner	...	Mrs. Lisbon
Kirsten Dunst	...	Lux Lisbon
Josh Hartnett	...	Trip Fontaine
Michael Paré	...	Adult Trip Fontaine (as Michael Pare)
Scott Glenn	...	Father Moody
Danny DeVito	...	Dr. Horniker
A.J. Cook	...	Mary Lisbon
Hanna Hall	...	Cecilia Lisbon
Leslie Hayman	...	Therese Lisbon
Chelse Swain	...	Bonnie Lisbon
Anthony DeSimone	...	Chase Buell (as Anthony Desimone)
Lee Kagan	...	David Barker
Robert Schwartzman	...	Paul Baldino
FourTee	...	Parkie Denton (as Noah Shebib)

Storyline

A man about forty years of age tells the story from when he was a teenager in upscale suburban Detroit of his and three of his friends' fascination with the mysterious and doomed Lisbon sisters. In 1974, the sisters were seventeen year old Therese, sixteen year old Mary, fifteen year old Bonnie, fourteen year old Lux, and thirteen year old Cecilia. Their fascination still remains as they try to piece together the entire story. The sisters were mysteries if only because of having a strict and overprotective upbringing by their father, who taught math at the girls' private co-ed school, and overly devout Catholic mother, who largely dictated the household rules. The story focuses primarily on two incidents and the resulting situations on the girls' lives. The first was an action by Cecilia to deal with her emotions over her life. And the second was the relationship between Lux - the sister who pushed the boundaries of the household rules most overtly in doing what most teenagers want to...

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | catholic | 1970s | teen suicide | overprotective parent | 

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Taglines:

Beautiful, mysterious, haunting, invariably fatal. Just like life.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong thematic elements involving teens

Did You Know?

Trivia

A.J. Cook and Hayden Christensen appeared on Higher Ground (2000) - a short lived series about troubled teens. They played each other's love interests.

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Goofs

To show the Lisbon house's gradual dilapidation, the 7 on the house number above the door is sideways as if it was missing a nail. In a later shot that is meant to demonstrate the passage of time, the 7 is upright again.

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Quotes

Narrator: We knew the girls were really women in disguise, that they understood love, and even death, and that our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them.

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Connections

Referenced in Jenny (2016)

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Soundtracks

Strange Magic
Written by Jeff Lynne
Performed by Electric Light Orchestra (as ELO)
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc.

User Reviews

Sofia Coppola is a genius

I've searched for this movie more than two years, cause I've read the book and I do love it. It's one of the most beautiful stories about teenagers that had ever been written. The suicides of these five beautiful girls aren't to be taken seriously, it's a metaphor the author uses. He wants so write about the strange and often really terrible feelings teenagers have. And Sofia Coppola created an atmosphere I can't describe. Just as a light wind on a hot summer day, if you know what I mean. She's really one of the greatest young directors (especially female) of our time. "Lost in Translation" is a masterpiece as well. The actors were good, Kirsten Dunst is such a great actress, she should do more movies like "The Virgin Suicides", where she really has to act. Josh Harnett is wonderful as Trip and the girls who play Therese, Mary, Bonnie and Cecilia, are great discoveries. If you like films with depth, films you have to think about, this one here is remarkable for you. Please, watch it and immerse in the world of the Lisbon girls and the boys next door.

P.s.: I hope I didn't make too much mistakes. :)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sofia Coppola's the Virgin Suicides

Filming Locations:

28 Dunloe Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$235,122, 23 April 2000

Gross USA:

$4,906,229

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,409,377

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Zoetrope, Eternity Pictures, Muse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 90 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1