Virgin (2003)

38% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(752 ratings)

American independent filmmaker Deborah Kampmeier makes her writing and directing debut with the intimate drama Virgin. In a small conservative town, Jessie (Elizabeth Moss) is the outcast teenager of a right-wing Christian family consisting of a strict dad (Peter Gerety), an emotional mom (Robin… More American independent filmmaker Deborah Kampmeier makes her writing and directing debut with the intimate drama Virgin. In a small conservative town, Jessie (Elizabeth Moss) is the outcast teenager of a right-wing Christian family consisting of a strict dad (Peter Gerety), an emotional mom (Robin Wright Penn, who also produced), and an innocent sister (Stephanie Gatschet). After spending an evening with local boy Shane (Charles Socarides), Jessie is convinced that she's pregnant, although she has no memory of actually having sex. Her rebellious behavior isn't completely understood by her family or her community. The conclusion finds her meeting up with two other troubled women. Virgin was shown at the 2003 IFP Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Deborah Kampmeier, Hanny Saputra
Written By: Deborah Kampmeier
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 3, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Feb 8, 2005
Studio: Artistic License Films

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The more you consider the theological undertones of Virgin, the more radical it becomes.
Charles Ealy, Dallas Morning News
As a religious-themed movie, Virgin is as unconventional as they come.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
So much of Virgin is bunk masquerading as sexual politics.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
An unfortunately muddled portrait of a teenage girl going through a moral and spiritual crisis.
Robert Koehler, Variety
Evinces too much of the Lars Von Trier influence (especially Breaking the Waves) while falling victim to some of its central character's overt strangeness.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
[F]elt too much like a really impressive school project, film school project but not a complete feature film.
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
At times I wasn't sure that the movie knew exactly what it wanted to say. And yet it remains quite a powerful experience.
Marc Mohan, Oregonian
Moss' performance is solid, but undone by the palsied hand-held camerawork and the script's general lack of focus.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
Falls short of being satisfying, hurts a little to experience, and the next morning you're thinking it wasn't worth the trouble - sound familiar?
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
A pretentious, unpalatable stew that serves up thematic elements touching on religion, feminism, psychosis, mysticism and guilt without stirring up any believable characters, engaging story, or emotional moments that might engage audiences.
Jordan Reed, Boxoffice Magazine
Kampmeier reveals her inexperience as a feature filmmaker, and her effort struggles with the weight of its own subject matter and final ambiguities.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Rough-edged but affecting.