Virgina (1991)

"Virgina" tells a tale from the end of the 19th century. It took place in a isolated village near the Adriatic Sea. Because of the extreme patriarchal culture there is a superstition that families without male heirs are cursed. When the wife of a farmer gives birth to their fourth daughter, father decides that the child will become a so-called "Virgina" and that she will live as a man, so that she can work and be the family heir. This heartbreaking story of Virgina's life is told with strong words, augmented with harsh environment.

IMDB

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The idea of this film is quite original and intriguing. I watched it for the first time about a year ago and I now consider it one of my favourite films of all time. As an English speaker, the Serbian dialogue/necessity of subtitles did not take anything from my enjoyment, as it added to the otherworldly, minimalistic atmosphere. After being flooded with Hollywood sensationalism, a film like this is extremely refreshing- dramatic but not melodramatic. It is honest and beautiful. The focus is on the internal and external struggles of the characters instead of action and visual effects. I found myself brought to tears by the plight of the protagonist; I would recommend this to anyone who likes foreign films, GLBT films (as it shows a different aspect of gender identity), or "slow", thoughtful dramas.

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