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Sofia Coppola's directorial debut, The Virgin Suicides, definitely feels like a distant relative of Peter Weir's classic film Picnic at Hanging Rock. Most of the time it has the same airy, borderline surreal ambience that is present in Weir's film that can just about trick your mind to register that you have fallen asleep but with your eyes wide open. Viewing it can be a very special experience.

The Virgin Suicides is set twenty five years ago in a small community in Michigan, and revolves around the household of the Lisbons. Ronald Lisbon (James Woods) is a mathematics teacher at the local school, and lives in suburbia with his wife (Kathleen Turner) and their five lovely daughters - Cecilia (Hanna Hall), Lux (Kirsten Dunst), Bonnie (Chelse Swain), Mary (A.J. Cook) and Therese (Leslie Hayman). Mrs Lisbon has a rather heavy-handed approach to raising her daughters and this includes severe restrictions upon what they can and cannot do, which for teenagers is not a great thing. The other significant part of the story is the neighbourhood boys who find themselves bewitched by the beautiful Lisbon sisters. Indeed, the story is told from the perspective of those neighbourhood boys and in the form of a retrospective narrative as they look back those twenty five years in search of an answer for what happened to the Lisbon sisters.

Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, James Woods, Michael Pare, Danny DeVito
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Romance

BD50 + DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:37:00 | 44.5 Gb + 7.13 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Revisiting "The Virgin Suicides" - presented here is a brand new video program in which Sofia Coppola, cinematographer Ed Lachman, and actors Kirsten Dunst and Josh Hartnett recall their work on The Virgin Suicides. Additionally, there are very interesting observations about the visual style and tone of the film as well as the manner in which it captures the flavor of Jeffrey Eugenides' excellent novel; the director's willingness to receive input from other people; and the very important role that the music has for the film's intended ambience. The program was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Jeffrey Eugenides - in this new video interview, writer Jeffrey Eugenides recalls how years ago he was contacted by Sofia Coppola and discusses her interest in his novel, her initial plan and research for the film, the vibes of the novel and the film, the similarities between the characters from the novel and the ones played by the actors in the film, the production process and some of the locations that were chosen for the film, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Strange Magic - in this new program, writer Tavi Gevinson addresses some of the main themes in The Virgin Suicides and references some of her writings from a fanzine she made about the film in 2012. The program was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Making "The Virgin Suicides" - presented here is an archival program with footage that was shot by Sofia Coppola's mother, Eleanor, during the production of The Virgin Suicides. In addition to the raw footage, there are also numerous clips from statements and interviews with James Woods, Jeffrey Eugenides, Kathleen Turner, Scott Glenn, and Josh Hartnett, amogst others. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Lick the Star - this short was shot by Sofia Coppola on 16mm film in 1988. shortly before she started working on The Virgin Suicides. It focuses on the unusual triumphs and failures teenagers experience while growing up. In English, not subtitled. B&W. (14 min).

• Playground Love - presented here is the music video for Air's song "Playground Love", which is included in the original soundtrack that the duo created for The Virgin Suicides. The video was directed by Sofia Coppola and her brother, Roman. (4 min).

• Trailers - original vintage trailers for The Virgin Suicides. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).