NYP – This week’s movie is The Virgin Suicides (1999) written and directed by Sofia Coppola. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Jeffrey Eugenides. Set in 1974, the film chronicles the suicides of five sisters in an upper middle class suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The entire film is delivered from the view of the neighborhood boys fascinated by the girls. You’re going to have to listen to Giovanni Ribisi narrate the whole entire movie, I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do about that. Try and imagine it’s his character Frank Buffay from Friends. Which probably won’t help.
Remember? He was in The Fast and the Furious
Why you’re watching it: It’s not as depressing as it sounds. Most of the movie takes place with at least four of the girls still alive. And one of them is Kirsten Dunst.
Why your date likes that you want to watch it: There are three possible scenerios when dealing with The Virgin Suicides:
A.) She’s seen is before. A million times, and it’s her secret favorite! (Nobody admits a suicide pact movie is their favorite movie at a cocktail party—it’s no Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). She’ll love that it’s your secret favorite too. Twins!
B.) She hasn’t seen it but she has seen saw Lost in Translation (2003). She’s still wondering what Bill Murray whispered to Scarlet Johansson. You’re so cool for knowing early Coppola.
C.) She’s never seen or heard of it. It doesn’t matter, she will love it because it will remind her of first love, also possibly a certain trapper keeper, pair of earrings, mix tape or sticker collection she had. Nostalgia is such an aphrodisiac.
Something impressive to say after the film: You love the bright soft focus shots of the sun through the leaves and that you read it’s one of the director’s trademarks. Also, rave about the soundtrack. It really is pretty great.
Lastly, take advantage of the fact that: The hot guy in it is Josh Harnett but his haircut makes him look like such a tool that you will win out in comparison.
