Sworn Virgin (film)
Sworn Virgin (Italian: Vergine giurata) is a 2015 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Laura Bispuri. It was screened in the main competition section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.[1][2][3][4]
Sworn Virgin | |
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Original title | Vergine giurata |
Directed by | Laura Bispuri |
Screenplay by | Francesca Manieri |
Based on | Vergine giurata by Elvira Dones |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Vladan Radovic |
Edited by |
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Music by | Nando Di Cosimo |
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Distributed by |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
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Plot
The story takes place in Albania. In a rugged, impoverished world where women are treated as chattel, some women escape their hard, gender-determined fate by claiming the status of “sworn virgins” before a dozen male elders, after which they don male garb and live as men.
They are then granted the privilege to engage in all male activities such as carrying rifles and hunting, but they are prohibited from engaging in sexual activity with either gender. In Albania's remote mountain villages, this custom dates back at least a couple of centuries is still practiced. Though the custom is now fading, it remains a unique aspect of the cultural heritage of these villages.
Cast
- Alba Rohrwacher as Mark/Hana
- Flonja Kodheli as Lila
- Lars Eidinger as Bernhard
- Luan Jaha as Stjefen
- Bruno Shllaku as Gjergj
- Ilire Vinca as Katrina
- Drenica Selimaj as Little Hana
- Emily Ferratello as Jonida
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 71% based on 17 reviews.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]
Writing for RogerEbert.com, Godfrey Cheshire gave the film 2 out of 4 stars. He stated that the film lacks dramatic power and unexpected revelation, but its details and subtle developments, such as the evolving relationship between the main character and her niece, are the most winning aspects.[7]
See also
References
- Press Release (19 January 2015). "Berlinale 2015: Competition Complete". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- "Vergine giurata (Sworn Virgin)". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- Lodge, Guy (12 February 2015). "Film Review: 'Sworn Virgin'". Variety. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- Young, Deborah (12 February 2015). "'Sworn Virgin': Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- "Sworn Virgin", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 12 February 2023
- "Sworn Virgin", Metacritic, retrieved 12 February 2023
- Cheshire, Godfrey. "Sworn Virgin movie review & film summary (2016)". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
External links
Additional reading
- The last of Albania's 'sworn virgins' - story about real Albanian Sworn Virgins