Virgin Tales Directed
by
Mirjam von Arx Switzerland / 2012 / 87 minutes New York Premiere
Preceded by HISTORY OF VIRGINITY
Screening
Times and Venues:
SYNOPSIS:
“You’re Khrystian you’re beautiful, your name means free spirit, lover of God,” opens Virgin Tales, a documentary that takes a fascinating look at a growing counterculture trend affecting 1 in 8 girls in America. The film follows the evangelical Wilson family of Colorado Springs as they adhere to a life of “pure waiting,” a lifestyle in which their children vow to remain completely unsoiled until their marriage – even so far as saving their first kiss for the altar. Cameras follow the family through church services, conventions, purity balls and their home life, accompanied all the while by a video diary kept by Jordyn, the oldest unmarried sister who patiently waits for her turn. Director Mirjam Von Arx brings us this unexpected, two-year long glimpse into the real life of this family and those around them, set against the backdrop of the political tension of the past four years and the war in Afghanistan. –Samantha Yellin
BIO:
Mirjam von Arx, was born 1966 in Switzerland. After studying journalism, von Arx worked for 18 years as an editor and freelancer for a number of German language magazines. In 1991, she moved to New York and produced the road movie Bluesiana and executed two documentaries for SRF and Sat1. In 2001, she moved to London and began filming the documentary Building the Gherkin. In 2002, she founded the production company ican films gmbh.
In 2006/7 she produced the documentary Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse for Thomas Haemmerli. The film was awarded the Zurich Film Prize 2007 and nominated for the Swiss Film Prize 2008. Her documentary Seed Warriors was theatrically released in 2010 and won a nomination for the Int. Green Film Award 2011 at the, Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin, Germany
The Woodstock Film Festival is a not-for-profit, 501c3 organization with a mission to present an
annual program and year-round schedule of film, music,
and art-related activities that promote artists, culture,
inspired learning, and diversity. The Hudson Valley Film
Commission promotes sustainable economic development
by attracting and supporting film, video and media production.
