Sworn Virgin (film)
Sworn Virgin | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical film poster | |
Original title | Vergine giurata |
Directed by | Laura Bispuri |
Screenplay by | Francesca Manieri |
Based on | Vergine giurata by Elvira Dones |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Vladan Radovic |
Edited by |
|
Music by | Nando Di Cosimo |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
Countries |
|
Languages |
|
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]
Plot
Hana Doda, still a girl, escapes from her destiny of being a wife and a servant, a future imposed on women in the harsh mountains of Albania. Following his uncle's guide, she appeals to the old law of the Kanun, which gives women, taking an oath of eternal virginity, the chance to embrace a rifle and live free as men. For everybody Hana becomes Mark, a "sworn virgin".
But something alive pulses and frets under these new clothes. Her choice becomes her prison and those immense mountains seem so narrow now. Mark decides to set out on journey, too long put off. She leaves her land and arrives in Italy, where a new journey begins; a continuous and subtle path, crossing the line of two far away and different worlds: Albania and Italy, past and present, masculine and feminine.
Slowly Mark discovers her body again. She experiences the vertigo of touching other bodies and she finds caring, loving people life had denied her. She opens up to an unexpected and prohibited love's chance.
Mark rediscovers Hana, finally piecing back together the two souls that for years have lived inside her body. She is reborn as a new, free and complete creature.
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, and an average rating of 7.2/10.[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 two out of four 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]
Awards and Nominations
- 2015 - David di Donatello
- Nomination to Best Emerging Director Award to Laura Bispuri
- Nomination to Best Actress to Alba Rohrwacher
- Nomination to Best Photography to Vladan Radovic
- 2015 - Globo D'Oro
- Best First Feature Film to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Berlin International Film Festival
- Nomination to the Golden Bear to Laura Bispuri
- Nomination for Best First Feature Award to Laura Bispuri
- Nomination to the Teddy Award to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Tribeca Film Festival
- Nora Ephron Prize to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - San Francisco International Film Festival
- New Director Prize to Laura Bispuri
- Golden Gate Award to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - AFI Fest
- Nomination to New Auteurs Award to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Off Camera International Festival of Independent Cinema (Kracow)
- FIPRESCI Jury Award to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Hong Kong International Film Festival
- Golden Firebird Award to Laura Bispuri
- Nomination to FIPRESCI Prize to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Haifa International Film Festival
- Nomination for Best International Film to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Mezipatra Queer Film Festival
- Gran Jury Prize to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival
- Best LGBTQ Film to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - First Youth Firm Festival
- Gran Jury Prize - Feature Film to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - 20th Forum of European Cinema ORLEN Cinergia (Poland)
- Cristal Boat Award for Best European First Feature to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Festival International du Film de Femmes de Salé
- Jury Prize to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival
- Best Film Prize to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Bobbio Film Festival
- Emerging Youth Award to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Dolly D'Oro Giuseppe De Santis
- Dolly D'Oro Giuseppe De Santis to Laura Bispuri
- 2015 - Ortigia Film Festival
- Audience Prize to Laura Bispuri
- Best Film to Laura Bispuri
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
- Sworn Virgin at IMDb
- Sworn Virgin at Rotten Tomatoes
- Sworn Virgin at Metacritic
Additional reading
- The last of Albania's 'sworn virgins' - story about real Albanian Sworn Virgins