The Virgin Suicides Reviews

Honestly, it has been a while since I have seen this flick and I actually would like to re-watch it at some point to make up my mind about the whole thing. Actually, I have noticed that even though all the movies directed by Sofia Coppola were really interesting, I actually had a a hard time to connect with them (even ‘Lost in Translation’ which was hailed as a real masterpiece was interesting but not really mind-blowing in my opinion). With her directing debut, it was pretty much the same thing. I remember it very well, the first time I watched it, I was living in England, I saw it with my roommates and while I thought it was actually pretty good, they thought it was just pretty terrible. Honestly, I couldn’t really blame them. Indeed, I really enjoyed the look and the mood of the whole thing and there was definitely something quite spellbinding about it. On the other hand, you never really get the opportunity to really know or connect with the characters and, on top of that, it felt rather pretentious. Still, even though it is not really a masterpiece and I think it is worth a look, especially if you are interested in this director.

This story about tragedy that somehow surrounds an average family in an average neighborhood, is filled with some of today's best actors. The story of the family bleeds over into the young men of the neighborhood as well, and gives the viewer a feeling of a (non-sexual) voyeurism. I think it enhances the viewers experience (by listening to the boys thoughts), but it also distances you at the same time. I assume the book is the same way. It was really well done, yet somehow unsatisfying. Perhaps that is the point.