The Virgin Suicides (1999)

A group of male friends become obsessed with a group of mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents after one of them commits suicide.

Director:

Sofia Coppola

Writers:

Jeffrey Eugenides (novel), Sofia Coppola

Stars:

James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Kirsten Dunst

3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Ronald 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
Noah Shebib	...	Parkie Denton

Storyline

The lives of an eclectic group of men who live in an affluent American suburb in the '70s are forever changed by their obsession with five doomed sisters.

---

Plot Keywords:

suicide | virgin | suburb | school | isolation | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong thematic elements involving teens

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics [United States] Paramount Classics [United States] (Obsession Design)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sofia Coppola's the Virgin Suicides

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£141,888 (UK) (19 May 2000)

Gross:

$4,859,475 (USA) (25 August 2000)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

A world map, using the far less common Gall-Peters projection, can be seen in background in the scene where the boys exchange songs with the Lisbon sisters over the telephone

---

Goofs

The city Grosse Pointe is misspelled "Gross Point" on the tree removal notice.

---

Quotes

Tim Weiner: When she jumped, she probably thought she could fly.

---

Connections

References If.... (1968)

---

Soundtracks

"Crazy on You"
Written by Ann Wilson & Nancy Wilson
Performed by Heart
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under License from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets
Published by Andorra Music

User Reviews

Engaging and heartfelt - a MUST see!

"The Virgin Suicides" is a touching, artistic film which transforms you through various stages of grief to realize what you already knew all along - Suicide is pointless. The film focuses on the lives of five teenage sisters from the perspective of the teenage boys who adore them. It's warm, funny, and totally engaging…not to mention a soundtrack to die for! There are incredible moments of cinematography - images that burn like when mother Kathleen Turner insists that her daughter, Kirsten Dunst burn her rock albums, Kiss, Aerosmith….the overwhelming stench and smoke billows out the doorway behind her when Kathleen throws the rest in the trash…and without a flinch she re-enters the billowing doorway. Only a few rocky transitions between scenes catch you by surprise and pull you out of Sophia's incredible imagination and back to your theatre seat. With wonderful performances by Kathleen Turner, Kirsten Dunst, James Woods and the rest and powerful directing by Sophia Coppola…you're left wondering as any friend or parent would - "why?" "Didn't they know we loved them?"