Virgin

Until recently, in certain areas of Yugoslavia, families without male children were regarded as cursed; accordingly, they would select a daughter to live as a son. In exploring the fate of one such family, this fascinating drama has hapless young 'Stephen' struggling with the deception, though defying both her father and repressive religious orthodoxy to find illicit joy in femininity. Karanovic's framing sets characters against the harsh, stark landscape to convey a sense of lives completely integrated with nature, while domestic scenes capture back-breaking hardship. Forceful and tender by turns, this boasts sequences of haunting intensity.