The Virgin Suicides

          This Sofia Coppola-directed film is about five sisters -- all of whom commit suicide. It is a melancholy work of art entirely of its own mission... Whatever that may be. Maybe it's to comment on the ambiguity of the act of taking one's own life, maybe it's to display the pressures of being a teenage girl. I'm not quite sure what it is, but this movie is truly compelling. The imagery is ridiculously perfect, and I just cannot believe that this was Sofia Coppola's first feature. She has inspired me to read the book, so when I do I will report back additional thoughts. Another part of the story is that a group of boys across the street stalk the girls using a telescope. They also play records (the year is 1974) for the sisters over the phone (after the first suicide, the girls are removed from school and forced to get rid of the albums. The cinematography is beautiful, especially with showing the emptiness of the house in an ending montage and in a scene at the field. I thought it was interesting how a greenish tint was suddenly added at the end after the big finale. Despite the omnipresent sorrow, this film evokes pleasing sentimental feelings as well. There is a character analogous to that of Ashton Kutcher's Kelso in That '70s Show, and he brings about most of the comedy in the movie. However, things take a turn for the worst at the end of every happy stretch of scenes. The finale is shocking and really hits you in a place of your heart in a way that you don't feel very often. In these quick ninety-seven minutes, Sofia has rapidly and thoroughly showed her great talent of making films and telling stories in general. No one with any knowledge of her work can say that she is only accepted in the industry because of her legendary father, Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders). Yes, I'm sure he helped in getting her name out there, but her visionary abilities with writing and leading a film crew to victory are what earn her the title of being a true artist. I am going to proceed to watch the rest of her films, hopefully finishing within the next week or so. Her newest movie The Bling Ring opens up next month, starring Emma Roberts and Taissa Farmiga from American Horror Story. Next up to watch: Lost in Translation.