The Virgin Suicides Blu-ray Review

The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray release of "The Virgin Suicides" provides a stunning visual presentation with a 1080p transfer in a 1.67:1 aspect ratio. This transfer, supervised by director Sofia Coppola and cinematographer Ed Lachman, utilized a 4K resolution scan of the original 35mm camera negative. The meticulous restoration process saw thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, and other anomalies manually corrected using advanced tools like MTI's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix. Displayed on a large screen, the visual fidelity is astonishing, offering remarkable clarity, delineation, and depth that is a significant upgrade over older releases.

The color palette in this new transfer is beautifully calibrated, maintaining the integrity of the original while enhancing the overall visual experience. Contrasts are particularly well-handled; where older versions had blown-out highlights, this transfer reveals nuanced ranges that make whites appear more detailed and balanced. Colors are natural and well-balanced without leaning towards overly harsh primaries, bolstering the film's suburban setting with bold yet convincing hues. Even the film grain, often a concern in high-definition transfers, is managed expertly, contributing positively to the cinematic quality without introducing noise or instability.

A variety of scenes demonstrate intentional color tints, such as blue and green, which serve to underscore the film's emotional tones rather than indicating any issues with the transfer itself. Deep black levels and skin tones remain true and natural throughout, reinforcing the film's dramatic visuals without any occurrences of banding, aliasing, or digital noise. This new edition not only preserves but elevates Sofia Coppola's vision for "The Virgin Suicides," making it a definitive visual experience for aficionados and newcomers alike.

The Blu-ray release of "The Virgin Suicides" offers a solitary audio track in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 with optional English SDH subtitles. The audio has undergone extensive remastering, preserving its essential characteristics comparable to the lossless track of previous international releases. The clarity, depth, and balance are exemplary, consistently highlighting the film’s rich soundtrack. Notably, there are no audible imperfections such as pops, dropouts, or digital distortions, ensuring an immaculate listening experience.

Remastered from the original 35mm Dolby SR magnetic track, this DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix carefully eliminates clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle. Given the nature of "The Virgin Suicides," the audio mix is notably soft and nuanced, lacking explosive sound effects but excelling in subtler soundscapes. The soundtrack music impressively enhances the emotional depth of the film, while dialogue remains crystal clear and flawlessly intelligible. Even the more sizeable sound effects are robust without being intrusive, making the overall audio presentation suitable for this contemplative, dialogue-driven film.

The Blu-ray edition of "The Virgin Suicides" includes a comprehensive collection of extras that delve deeply into the film's production, themes, and legacy. The primary feature, "Revisiting The Virgin Suicides," presents new interviews with director Sofia Coppola, cinematographer Ed Lachman, and actors Kirsten Dunst and Josh Hartnett as they reflect on their experiences and the film's impact. Another highlight is an illuminating interview with author Jeffrey Eugenides, offering insights into the adaptation process. The extras include insightful commentary from writer Tavi Gevinson and archival making-of footage shot by Eleanor Coppola. Additionally, Coppola’s early short film "Lick the Star" is included, along with the music video for Air's "Playground Love," and vintage trailers for the film. A richly illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Megan Abbott completes the package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Revisiting The Virgin Suicides: New interviews with Coppola, Lachman, Dunst, and Hartnett about the film’s creation and legacy.
• Jeffrey Eugenides: Interview with the author discussing the book's adaptation into film.
• Strange Magic: Tavi Gevinson discusses the film's themes and tones.
• Making The Virgin Suicides: Archival behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• Lick the Star: Sofia Coppola’s early black-and-white short film.
• Playground Love: Music video directed by Sofia and Roman Coppola.
• Trailers: Two vintage trailers for "The Virgin Suicides."
• Leaflet: Illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Megan Abbott.

Sofia Coppola's directorial debut, The Virgin Suicides, remains a deeply affecting and relevant film, embodying an ethereal quality reminiscent of Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock. The narrative structure, rooted in Jeffrey Eugenides' novel, revolves around a reflective voice-over by a former high-school star who, with his friends, recalls their fascination with the enigmatic Lisbon sisters. Set in the 1970s, the film captures the tragic sequence of events that unfold after the youngest sister, Cecilia, takes her own life. This act sets off a chain reaction of protective measures by their parents, leading to a reclusive existence that ultimately drives the remaining sisters to a similar fate.

Coppola's approach masterfully balances the narrative's inherent tragedy with an ambient aesthetic created alongside cinematographer Ed Lachman. The visual style is sleek yet grounded, perfectly encapsulating the film's surreal atmosphere. This stylistic choice underscores the disjunction between teenage aspirations and adult realities, emphasizing the destructive cultural stereotypes that besiege the Lisbon family. The original soundtrack by French duo Air further complements Coppola's vision, enhancing the film's dreamlike quality while contributing to its emotional resonance.

Nearly two decades since its release, The Virgin Suicides is a testament to Coppola's ability to evoke both beauty and ugliness, logic and illogic. The performances are nuanced and genuine, reflecting universal themes of overprotectiveness, betrayal, and the bittersweet nature of adolescence. This Blu-ray release by Criterion includes a plethora of supplemental features: new interviews with Coppola, Ed Lachman, Kirsten Dunst, and Josh Hartnett; original vintage trailers; and additional content such as a music video by Air. The package is rounded out with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Megan Abbott, providing further insight into this significant work of cinema.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release of Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides" is an exceptional presentation of a unique film. The 4K remaster, overseen by the film’s cinematographer Ed Lachman and approved by Coppola herself, breathes new life into a movie that has captivated audiences for over two decades. The film's visual fidelity is stunning, preserving the ethereal glow of Lachman’s original cinematography while enhancing fine details and color accuracy. The audio mix is meticulously crafted, offering clear dialogue and a robust, immersive soundscape that complements the film's melancholic tone.

The film itself remains a masterful exploration of teenage angst and mystery, combining surrealism with startlingly raw emotions. Coppola’s directorial debut demonstrates her deft touch in crafting an atmospheric and gripping narrative. The performances, particularly those of the young actresses portraying the Lisbon sisters, are compelling and contribute to the film's haunting allure. The Blu-ray release enhances this experience with high-definition clarity that draws viewers deeper into the unsettling yet poetic world Coppola created.

The bonus features on this Criterion edition are a notable highlight, providing both new material and vintage content that enriches the viewing experience. These extras offer invaluable insights into the making of the film and its impact, making this release not just a viewing engagement but a comprehensive exploration of an influential cinematic work.

Overall, "The Virgin Suicides" has been a somewhat polarizing film since its premiere in 1999, but I actually believe that to this day it remains Sofia Coppola's best work. There are a lot of really great things that happen in it in a very organic way while actually being part of something rather surreal, and I find this very attractive. It is a very well-crafted directorial debut. Criterion's upcoming Blu-ray release is sourced from a brand new 4K remaster of the film which was supervised by cinematographer Ed Lachman and approved by Coppola. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.