I watched this film on video not too long after it was first released. Remember being a bit underwhelmed to be honest. However, after watching it again yesterday have changed my mind considerably. This is because this time I watched it with a different approach. The best way to describe this film (and recommend it hopefully) is probably to ask some questions which played on my mind for quite a while afterwards. These are only my interpretations, but here we go:
The film is narrated by a group of boys, well, men who are remembering being boys is more accurate, although the very young sounding voice alerted me to something and led on to the first question: IS THIS NARRATORIAL VOICE RELIABLE?
I would suggest the clue to this question is in the title of the film 'The Virgin Suicides' - well they were not all virgins were they. According to the male's telling of the story, Lux has been sexually active by the time of her tragic death. Also, Trip Fontaine (and this is listed in the Goofs section here I noticed), speaking as a washed up bloke approaching 40 sitting in rehab, remembers being stoned and walking into the wrong History class the first time he meets Lux Lisbon - he was, according to the story, stoned every day - and on this day we are shown him escaping being caught by a teacher in the corridor. One, the sign on the door says: 'Language Arts' and Two, he was a big pot smoker at the time so in all fairness his memories might be a bit fuddled to say the least.
The fact Trip mentions 'History' is revealing as well. History is told by the victors - and the victors here - or survivors if you like, are all male, white, middle class and heading towards a Mid life crisis. At least a few have had broken marriages and relationships, handily using the Lisbon sisters as an excuse: 'They spoilt us for any future girlfriends and wives', the narrator says.
The narrators are re-writing history through the prism of their own present lives - and like any history, we should be aware that this tale is both extremely edited and also an apology.
Who is the object of the gaze? Who is being described and - importantly - WATCHED. The five girls obviously. I do not think it is any coincidence that during some of the boys' fantasy scenes concerning particularly Lux, the filming is connotative of old 1970s adverts for soap (Lux!!!!) and shampoo.
This leads on to another question: Why do the girls organise for the boys to be the first witnesses ('audience') to their mass suicide? I argue this is the only way they feel they can speak back (have a voice). Consider it, they are virtually imprisoned in the house and their only link with the outside world is via a telephone and - vitally important inclusion - the telescope. The boys watch the girls, particularly Lux having sex on the roof of the house - and the girls know it. They are being watched like hawks by their parents and the boys across the road. Once you start to take into account the unreliable narrator of this story, you will (trust me on this one) really really be spooked.
There is a nasty edge here - but like the silenced version of events from the girls themselves - it is always just out of shot. Lux gets seduced and dumped in the middle of a football field, the male narrators version of Trip 'a gentleman who never talks about his conquests' is air brushed. This is a fourteen year old girl remember, who has to find a taxi home.
The dreamy way this film is shot is clever and appropriate. The narrator cannot be trusted. Watch again for the sneaky smiles that Lux keeps giving over her shoulder, again straight from an advertising campaign for just about anything - according to the boys' story, she even smiles up at the telescope when they are watching her on the roof with a series of boys. Again: pure middle aged male fantasy.
The prevalence of the image of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady) is not there just because the family are strict Catholics, but part of the boys' (and then the men's) fantasy of the Virgin / Whore dichotomy.
When I watched it with these things in mind, it was just a revelation. Would love to see a re- write from the Lisbon sisters' perspective.
Just my interpretation - suspect there are many!
Oh, one last thing: those diseased (Dutch Elm Disease) trees lining the street - like the girls, they are marked for destruction.
The film is narrated by a group of boys, well, men who are remembering being boys is more accurate, although the very young sounding voice alerted me to something and led on to the first question: IS THIS NARRATORIAL VOICE RELIABLE?
I would suggest the clue to this question is in the title of the film 'The Virgin Suicides' - well they were not all virgins were they. According to the male's telling of the story, Lux has been sexually active by the time of her tragic death. Also, Trip Fontaine (and this is listed in the Goofs section here I noticed), speaking as a washed up bloke approaching 40 sitting in rehab, remembers being stoned and walking into the wrong History class the first time he meets Lux Lisbon - he was, according to the story, stoned every day - and on this day we are shown him escaping being caught by a teacher in the corridor. One, the sign on the door says: 'Language Arts' and Two, he was a big pot smoker at the time so in all fairness his memories might be a bit fuddled to say the least.
The fact Trip mentions 'History' is revealing as well. History is told by the victors - and the victors here - or survivors if you like, are all male, white, middle class and heading towards a Mid life crisis. At least a few have had broken marriages and relationships, handily using the Lisbon sisters as an excuse: 'They spoilt us for any future girlfriends and wives', the narrator says.
The narrators are re-writing history through the prism of their own present lives - and like any history, we should be aware that this tale is both extremely edited and also an apology.
Who is the object of the gaze? Who is being described and - importantly - WATCHED. The five girls obviously. I do not think it is any coincidence that during some of the boys' fantasy scenes concerning particularly Lux, the filming is connotative of old 1970s adverts for soap (Lux!!!!) and shampoo.
This leads on to another question: Why do the girls organise for the boys to be the first witnesses ('audience') to their mass suicide? I argue this is the only way they feel they can speak back (have a voice). Consider it, they are virtually imprisoned in the house and their only link with the outside world is via a telephone and - vitally important inclusion - the telescope. The boys watch the girls, particularly Lux having sex on the roof of the house - and the girls know it. They are being watched like hawks by their parents and the boys across the road. Once you start to take into account the unreliable narrator of this story, you will (trust me on this one) really really be spooked.
There is a nasty edge here - but like the silenced version of events from the girls themselves - it is always just out of shot. Lux gets seduced and dumped in the middle of a football field, the male narrators version of Trip 'a gentleman who never talks about his conquests' is air brushed. This is a fourteen year old girl remember, who has to find a taxi home.
The dreamy way this film is shot is clever and appropriate. The narrator cannot be trusted. Watch again for the sneaky smiles that Lux keeps giving over her shoulder, again straight from an advertising campaign for just about anything - according to the boys' story, she even smiles up at the telescope when they are watching her on the roof with a series of boys. Again: pure middle aged male fantasy.
The prevalence of the image of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady) is not there just because the family are strict Catholics, but part of the boys' (and then the men's) fantasy of the Virgin / Whore dichotomy.
When I watched it with these things in mind, it was just a revelation. Would love to see a re- write from the Lisbon sisters' perspective.
Just my interpretation - suspect there are many!
Oh, one last thing: those diseased (Dutch Elm Disease) trees lining the street - like the girls, they are marked for destruction.