Virgin (2003 Film)

''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.

''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)
* 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. 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, "''Virgins 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."

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." 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 he filmis not a comedy. It also evokes something by Carl Dreyer, but he filmis 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."

On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, ''Virgin'' has an approval rating of 38% based on 21 reviews.

Awards and nominations

Won

*Hamptons International Film Festival 2003: Best Screenplay: Deborah Kampmeier
*Nashville Film Festival 2003: 2nd place Dreammaker Award: Deborah Kampmeier
*Santa Fe Film Festival 2003: Milagro Award : Best Independent Spirit: Deborah Kampmeier
*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

Nominated

*Golden Starfish Award: Best Fiction Feature Film/Video: Deborah Kampmeier
* Independent Spirit Awards 2004
** Best Female Lead: Elisabeth Moss
**John Cassavetes Award: Deborah Kampmeier (writer/director) and Sarah Schenck (producer)

References

External links

*
* {{Rotten tomatoes, id=virgin, title=Virgin

2003 films
2000s English-language films
2003 drama films
2000s American films
American drama films
Teenage pregnancy in film
American independent films
2003 independent films
Films about rape in the United States
Films about Christianity
Films about dysfunctional families
English-language independent films