Virgin (2003 film)
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Virgin
| image = virgin_2003.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Deborah Kampmeier
| producer = Sarah Schenck
Robin Wright
| writer = Deborah Kampmeier
| starring = Elisabeth Moss
Robin Wright
Daphne Rubin-Vega
| cinematography = Benjamin Wolf
| editing = Jane Pia Abramowitz
| distributor = Full Moon Films
| released = {{Film date|2003|06|14|LAFF|2004|09|03|United States}}
| runtime = 114 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = <$75,000{{cite web |title=Virgin (Review) |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/virgin/review/2000352584/ |website=TVGuide.com |access-date=26 October 2022}}
| gross = $9,614{{cite web |title=Virgin (2003) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0368411/ |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=26 October 2022}}
}}
Virgin is a 2003 American drama film written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier in her feature directorial debut. Starring Elisabeth Moss, Robin Wright, and Daphne Rubin-Vega, the film follows a Baptist teenager who, after discovering she is pregnant with no memory of having had sex, comes to believe that she is carrying the child of God.{{cite web |author=Kehr |first=Dave |date=2004-09-03 |title=FILM REVIEW; A Virgin and Pregnant? She Has One Explanation |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E5DD1331F930A3575AC0A9629C8B63 |work=The New York Times}}
Virgin premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 14, 2003, and was theatrically released in the United States on September 3, 2004. Despite mixed reviews from critics, Moss was singled out for praise for her performance. At the 19th Independent Spirit Awards, Moss was nominated for Best Female Lead, and Kampmeier and Sarah Schenck were nominated for the John Cassavetes Award.
Plot
17-year-old Jessie lives in an unnamed blue-collar town with her parents and younger sister, Katie. Though she was raised Baptist by her religious family, she is rebellious and has fallen into habits of drinking and shoplifting. One night at a church dance, Jessie goes off to the woods with her crush, Shane. Unaware that Shane has put a date rape drug into her drink, Jessie gets drunk and passes out. Shane sexually assaults her while she’s unconscious. Some time after Jessie regains consciousness, she finds herself pregnant. With no memory of having had sex, she believes that she is carrying a child of God. She is shunned by her family—and eventually the whole community—when word of her claim spreads.
Cast
- Elisabeth Moss as Jessie Reynolds
- Robin Wright as Mrs. Reynolds
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as Frances
- Socorro Santiago as Lorna
- Peter Gerety as Mr. Reynolds
- Stephanie Gatschet as Katie Reynolds
- Charles Socarides as Shane
- Sam Riley as Michael
- Casey Wilson as girlfriend (uncredited){{Cite web |date=2021-11-10 |title=Woman Crush Wednesday: Say Hello to 'The Shrink Next Door' Actress Casey Wilson |url=https://decider.com/2021/11/10/woman-crush-wednesday-casey-wilson/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Decider |language=en-US}}
- Curtiss Cook as Security Guard (uncredited)
Production
The film was shot in 21 days on digital video. Robin Wright’s support was an integral part of the film getting financed and produced.
Reception
Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars.{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=Virgin |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/virgin-2005 |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=26 October 2022 |date=January 6, 2005}} In a positive review, TV Guide said that while the film’s symbolism can be heavy-handed, "Moss' extraordinary performance as the restless, troubled Jesse makes up for a multitude of minor flaws; it's so transparent it scarcely seems like acting at all, and gives the film a haunting power that's hard to shake off." PopMatters wrote, "Virgin's potential subversion lies in its demonstration of the ways U.S. ideals and expectations are literally inscribed on the body of young women. Yet the film is ultimately hopeful."{{cite news |title=Virgin (2003) |url=https://www.popmatters.com/virgin-2004-2496250632.html |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=PopMatters |date=2004-09-17}}
In a negative review, Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe wrote, "So much of Virgin is bunk masquerading as sexual politics. It could have been a truly provocative work of religious devotion but settles for weakly held feminist positions that make Christianity look like the scariest religion ever."{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Welsey |title='Virgin' is more insulting than provocative |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2004/10/15/virgin_is_more_insulting_than_provocative/ |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 15, 2004}} He also argued the film doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, commenting the premise "sounds like the start of a John Waters movie, only [the film] is not a comedy. It also evokes something by Carl Dreyer, but [the film] is not that pious." Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club opined, "A truly courageous movie might have taken Moss' character at her word and followed through on the premise of a 21st-century Virgin Mary."{{cite news |last1=Tobias |first1=Scott |title=Virgin |url=https://www.avclub.com/virgin-1798200344 |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=The A.V. Club |date=2005-01-04}}
On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, Virgin has an approval rating of 38% based on 21 reviews.{{cite web |title=Virgin |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/virgin |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=26 October 2022}}
Awards and nominations
=Won=
- Hamptons International Film Festival 2003: Best Screenplay: Deborah Kampmeier{{Cite web |last= |date=2003-10-29 |title=A "Great Place," Even With Growing Pains; The Hamptons International Film Festival |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2003/10/a-great-place-even-with-growing-pains-the-hamptons-international-film-festival-79366/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}
- Nashville Film Festival 2003: 2nd place Dreammaker Award: Deborah Kampmeier
- Santa Fe Film Festival 2003: Milagro Award : Best Independent Spirit: Deborah Kampmeier{{Cite web |title=Films and Filmmakers Spring 2016 |url=https://www.montclair.edu/film-forum/speaker-series/films-and-filmmakers-series-archives/films-and-filmmakers-spring-2016/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Montclair State University |language=en-US}}
- Sedona International Film Festival 2004: Director's Choice Award: Best Actress: Elisabeth Moss
- Toronto Female Eye Film Festival 2003: Jury Award: Best Feature Film: Deborah Kampmeier{{cite news |title=18th Female Eye Film Festival Runs March 5–8 At TIFF Lightbox |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/18th-FEMALE-EYE-FILM-FESTIVAL-Runs-March-5-8-At-TIFF-Lightbox-20200220 |access-date=26 October 2022 |work=Broadway World |date=February 20, 2020}}
=Nominated=
- Golden Starfish Award: Best Fiction Feature Film/Video: Deborah Kampmeier
- Independent Spirit Awards 2004{{cite web |title=Interview with Deborah Kampmeier: VIRGIN |url=https://ff2media.com/blog/2007/10/21/interview-with-deborah-kampmeier-virgin/ |website=FF2 Media |access-date=26 October 2022 |date=March 11, 2005}}
- Best Female Lead: Elisabeth Moss
- John Cassavetes Award: Deborah Kampmeier (writer/director) and Sarah Schenck (producer)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0368411}}
- {{Rotten tomatoes|id=virgin|title=Virgin}}
Category:2000s English-language films
Category:Teenage pregnancy in film
Category:American independent films
Category:2003 independent films
Category:Films about rape in the United States
Category:Films about Christianity