Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola, is based on a novel of the same name written by Jeffrey Eugenides. The movie follows the events leading up to the eventual suicide of the five Lisbon sisters: Lux (14), Cecilia (13), Mary (16), Bonnie (15), and Therese (17). The movie has a phenomenal cast starring Kirsten Dunst as Lux, Josh Hartnett as Trip Fontaine, Kathleen Turner as Mrs. Lisbon, James Woods as Mr. Lisbon, A.J. Cook as Mary, Hanna Hall as Cecilia, Chelse Swain as Bonnie, Leslie Hayman as Therese, and Giovanni Ribisi narrating from the future as one of the neighbourhood boys who were infatuated with the Lisbon sisters.

This was Sofia Coppola's (daughter of famed director Francis Ford Coppola) second movie. The Virgin Suicides features a haunting score by French electronic band Air, as well as a soundtrack featuring favourite songs from the 1970s, including tracks by Todd Rundgren, Styx, Heart, Carole King, Electric Light Orchestra, and Gilbert O'Sullivan.

The Virgin Suicides takes place in 1970s suburban Michigan, land of debutante balls and Yale graduates. The foundation of the neighbourhood is shook when Cecilia Lisbon, only thirteen-years-old, attempts suicide by slitting her wrists with her father's razor. Cecilia's suicide attempt is unsuccessful and she is sent to a therapist named Dr. Horniker (played by Danny DeVito) who says that Cecilia's suicide attempt was a cry for help and that she needs more socialization with other people her age.

Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon arrange for a party to be thrown in Cecilia's honour at their home. During the party, Cecilia once again attempts suicide, this time by throwing herself out her bedroom window to the iron fence below; this time she succeeds. The Lisbon family is never the same after Cecilia's suicide; a dramatic change is seen within the remaining four Lisbon sisters. Mrs. Lisbon becomes withdrawn and even more overbearing.