The virgin suicides (1999)

I watched it during a particularly emotional time, and I truly feel I understood it, and I feel many others can too. I think it's a fantastic film and I highly recommend it.

For me, the central theme of this film is the feeling of being misunderstood, of having our emotions constantly invalidated. This is reflected in several key moments of the film: for example, when one of the sisters attempts suicide, the doctor treats her as if she were "still a child" and asks, bewildered, why she would do such a thing. Another revealing moment is the party they throw for her: although it's supposedly for her, no one really sees her, and it leaves us wondering if she truly wanted the celebration.

What captivates me most about the film is the perspective of the young neighbors, who become obsessed with the sisters and the mystery surrounding them, due to their lack of understanding. This external viewpoint intensifies their misunderstanding and invites us to reflect on how we judge and observe the lives of others without fully comprehending them.

The ending is shocking because of how sudden and disconcerting it is. Lux faces a problem that leads to all the sisters being confined by their extremely religious parents. The neighbors try to get closer to them, even communicating using Morse code. One night, the sisters call out to them, as if they wanted them to come and rescue them, but something unexpected happens. The ending, while not entirely happy, is powerful and leaves a feeling of emptiness and reflection. The mother insists that her daughters never lacked love, and perhaps that's true, but that love ignored their deepest thoughts, desires, and feelings.

This film captivated me precisely because of its blend of mystery, sensitivity, and quiet critique of the lack of understanding of the feelings and desires of young people, especially young girls. It reminds us that love, if it doesn't listen or understand, can be just as damaging as indifference.

10/10

What do you think?