Sofia Coppola directs Kirsten Dunst, James Woods and Josh Hartnett in this period teen drama following five beautiful daughters who commit suicide one summer and the community who could not know them.

Translucent. My first revisit to this since it was released at the cinemas. Back then it was a noteworthy debut. Now it is a cult classic with a die hard following. Still a bit too lightweight and insubstantial for me truly to get on board with. I know that is Coppola’s ultimate intent. She wants the girls’ inner lives and fates to be enigmas. That leaves the visuals to conjure up the clues, sadness and era. This will always be Coppola’s greatest strength, making the ethereal appear tactile and of some unfathomable import. Beauty is her currency.

6

Perfect Double Bill: The Beguiled (2017)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin