 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Virgin Suicides
- Review Date: May 10, 2003
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Intense, imperfect movie about teen suicide.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie's theme may be very upsetting to teens, some of whom may think it suggests that suicide is a romantic and powerful response to overly strict parents. In addition to the overall theme of sexual longing and repression, there are some sexual references and situations. One character smokes pot constantly (he is shown as an adult in a treatment center for substance abuse). Teenagers smoke and drink.
What's the story?
Set in the mid-1970's THE VIRGIN SUICIDES is the story of five exquisitely beautiful sisters who dazzle and beguile the boys around them. Amid the idyllic suburban stillness, there are intimations that all is not right. Huge elm trees are diagnosed with Dutch Elm Disease and ordered to be cut down. And the youngest of the Lisbon girls, only 13, tries to kill herself. The doctor shakes his head, "You're not even old enough to know how bad life gets." She looks up at him, sadly, wrists wrapped in white gauze, "Obviously, doctor, you've never been a 13 year old girl." A quarter of a century has passed, but the boys who longed for the Lisbon sisters can't forget them. They hold on to relics and totems: a diary, scribbled notes decorated with hearts and stickers. And they tell each other over and over the events of that time, hoping that this time they will make sense. There is no explanation for the unthinkably terrible act, and the movie does not try to provide one. Like the boys, we pore over their lives, looking for a point at which they might have made a different choice.
Is it any good?
First-time director Sophia Coppola, who also wrote the screenplay, based on the book by Jeffrey Eugenides, has a wonderful eye for detail and composition. The production design is perfect in every detail. There are painfully accurate moments as teenagers try to make conversation ("How'd your SATs go?" "You're a stone fox!") and connection (when the boys finally call the girls on the phone, all they can bring themselves to do is play records to them). Kirsten Dunst is marvelous as the most adventuresome of the girls, and Josh Hartnett is fine as the high school hunk with a broken heart for every puka shell around his neck. And the narration, beautifully read by Giovanni Ribisi, is lyrical and moving.
But ultimately, the movie falters. It tries for metaphor -- those dying elm trees, an asphyxiation-themed debutante party at which people wear gas masks decorated with glitter, the girls as princesses in a tower waiting for princes who can't save them. And it tries for distance from its time or milieu. But like the collection of ephemera the boys hold onto for years, the movie has "not life, but the most trivial list of mundane facts."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about what has and has not changed since the 1970's.
Why the girls were such an endless source of fascination for
the boys and about why the response of the community seemed so heartless
to the boys?What could have led the girls to take
their own lives and who, if anyone could have prevented it?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
November 14, 2008
AGE
I almost cried during this movie, it is so good
this is one of my favorite movies. there isnt really anything bad in it except for the language and some people smoke weed. this is a very dark, depressing movie and it will make you want to kill these girls parents but i think it is a must watch for everyone.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
A Common Adolesence Movie
Me,being an adolesence myself,consider this a typical teenage movie.I saw it as a very dark movie,but shows the downturn of a sqeaky clean family life,turning into confusion and tragedy.Though many may not be able to relate to this movie,this film could make many curious and wondering about the death of the Lisbon sisters.If you watch this movie,it will most likely leave you questioning.I,recommend this to anyone,in their teens,who would be interested in a mystery like this.
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Adult
January 14, 2011
AGE
Disturbing, confusing
This is an alright movie. Worth watching in a sense, though it is very hard to keep up with. It is confusing & contains a lot of references & depictions of suicide. Somewhat disturbing. This is definitely not for younger kids, more because of its confusing plot line.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
May 5, 2011
AGE
Good movie for kids 13+ who aren't sensitive babies, but sprouting, maturing, young adults who want to learn some lessons.
I am 13, and yes, I watched it. I really disagree about the rating of 'The Virgin Suicides'. Though the whole suicide thing may be hard for some of us to comprehend, this movie isn't very R! I don't remember seeing any nudity except for Lux's legs and all the sexual stuff was just french-kisses and close hugs. Now usually, I wouldn't be able to watch an R, but 'The Virgin Suicides' was an exception. You know, this movie has really showed me the mystery behind a suicide, the reasons for doing it, and the ones who you wouldn't think are looking after you and you four other sisters but they are.
All in all, I would highly advise this movie to teens 13+, but only the ones who aren't very.... sensitive... to the touchy real-life-teens situations. Though it is set in the 70's, the problems that the teens face in this movie STILL apply to kids today.
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Adult
November 20, 2011
AGE
Awful movie.
The problem with the virgin suicides is that it only uses one flawed emotional theme to make the entire movie and to get the attention of the audience. The characters are badly crafted, being a movie about suicide you would think that the characters would show signs of depression or mental illness, they don't. There are certain factors that supposedly cause the films tragedies, one of them being overly controlling and conservative parents, you might get the feeling that the point of the movie is to prove that bad parents are the main cause of suicide? But the movie does not prove that to be the case. It does not prove anything for that matter.
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Teen, 14 years old
August 11, 2010
AGE
One of my favorites but its too sad and boring for a twelve year old too watch.This was a great movie.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 15 years old
August 26, 2011
AGE
Loved it.
I really enjoyed this movie and it shows truth.
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Sofia Coppola |
| Cast: | James Woods, Josh Hartnett, Kirsten Dunst |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 12, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | December 19, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong thematic elements involving teens |
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