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
Theatrical film poster
Original titleVergine giurata
Directed byLaura Bispuri
Screenplay byFrancesca Manieri
Based onVergine giurata
by Elvira Dones
Starring
CinematographyVladan Radovic
Edited by
  • Carlotta Cristiani
  • Jacopo Quadri
Music byNando Di Cosimo
Production
companies
  • Vivo Film
  • Colorado Film
  • Bord Cadre
  • The Match Factory
  • Era Film
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 12 February 2015 (2015-02-12) (Berlin)
  • 19 March 2015 (2015-03-19) (Italy)
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • Italy
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • Albania
  • Kosovo
Languages
  • Italian
  • Albanian

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

Reception

RogerEbert.com has rated it a 2 star. In summary it said that the movie 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. The film's setting in a public pool highlights gender performance, but it does not delve into religion, which is an important aspect of conservative rural societies.[5]

On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 71% critics score (as of February 2023).[6]

On MetaCritic it got a score of 70.[7]

See also

References
  1. Press Release (19 January 2015). "Berlinale 2015: Competition Complete". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. "Vergine giurata (Sworn Virgin)". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. Lodge, Guy (12 February 2015). "Film Review: 'Sworn Virgin'". Variety. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  4. Young, Deborah (12 February 2015). "'Sworn Virgin': Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  5. Cheshire, Godfrey. "Sworn Virgin movie review & film summary (2016)". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  6. "Sworn Virgin", rottentomatoes.com, retrieved 12 February 2023
  7. "Sworn Virgin", metacritic.com, retrieved 12 February 2023

Additional reading
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