The Virgin Suicides

This brand new 4K restoration by Criterion gives you a chance to watch The Virgin Suicides in its original cinema quality, the better to appreciate Sofia Coppola's delicately crafted, luminously photographed work. It comes with five extras, three of which have been available before, all of which work very nicely as a set and, unlike the extras on many a DVD or Blu-Ray, are enjoyable if watched straight through.

First up is an interview with B Dunckel and Nicolas Godin from Air, in which they reflect on how they developed the soundtrack and the influence which the experience had on their music careers. Because this was the first time they worked on a project like this, they address details of the process which are often overlooked, so this segment will be particularly useful to people who are considering trying their hands at film scoring themselves. Intriguingly, it emerges that they have completely misunderstood the story, interpreting it as a romance in which the Lisbon sisters actually wanted to run away with the boys who watched them, but because the story is told from the boys' point of view this may have made their contribution more effective than it would otherwise have been.

Secondly there's a feature in which Sofia Coppola, cinematographer Ed Lachman, stars Kirsten Dunst and Josh Hartnett and others look back on the film. There's some really valuable, in-depth material here which will add to your appreciation of the work, and it makes for fascinating viewing.

Thirdly there's an interview with author Jeffrey Eugenides, who reflects on the experience of having one's work translated for the screen, exploring in detail some of the changes which were made and discussing how the finished work compares with what he had in his head when he began the writing process. He gently provides clarity for those who missed the point the first time, but also reflects of how Coppola's interpretation gave the sisters a degree of independent life and realness which we never have the chance to connect with directly in the book.

The fourth item here is a vintage making-of sequence which is given useful context by those earlier features. It provides a number of comedic moments and lets us see something of the mechanics which lie behind the dreamy images onscreen. It's shot by Eleanor Coppola, the director's mother and an accomplished documentarian. Francis Ford Coppola also appears briefly, admiring the scene in which the Lisbon girls protect a tree and giving his daughter advice on what it takes to make a hit.

Finally, there's a trip back to 1998, when Sofia Coppola was the same age as the Lisbon girls, to see her first short film as a director (before she knew that she was interested in directing as a career). Lick The Star is an edgy little social drama about high school life. It's pretty rough around the edges in terms of both visuals and audio, but it has a clear sense of style which one can see echoed in The Virgin Suicides, and is likewise interested in the intimate life of girls. it's worth watching, if only for contexts, and completist will be glad of the opportunity to add it, too, to their collections.