Virgin (2004) Review: Indonesian Teen Drama About Friendship and Social Pressure

 

Virgin | 2004 | 1h 54m
Genre: Drama | Country: Indonesia
Director: Hanny Saputra | Writer: Aramantono
Cast: Laudya Cynthia Bella, Ardina Rasti, Angie Virgin
IMDb: 5.4
My Rating: 8/10

Biyan tries to protect her virginity in an environment where it is no longer considered important. However, she faces a difficult choice when saving her two friends, Stella and Katie, requires her to make a painful sacrifice.

Warning:

Contains strong language, violence, nightlife, sexual themes, smoking, alcohol, and suicide.

Some films become unforgettable because they are technically brilliant. Others stay with us because they dared to talk about things people would rather avoid. Virgin (2004) belongs to the second category. Watching it again today, I still find its story interesting, although some scenes that once felt powerful now feel a little cringe in a completely different era.

Biyan (Laudya Cynthia Bella), Stella (Ardina Rasti), and Katie (Angie Virgin) are three high school girls with very different backgrounds and problems. Stella comes from a wealthy family. Her father is a successful politician, but the lack of affection she receives leaves her searching for attention in unhealthy relationships. Katie lives a more modest life and desperately wants to experience the kind of lifestyle her friends have. Meanwhile, Biyan comes from an unhappy family, with a father who repeatedly cheats on her mother and leaves her struggling with the emotional consequences.

Their different backgrounds eventually lead them into very different choices. Katie decides to sell her virginity and enter the world of prostitution because she needs money. Stella, who has already entered that world, helps her. Biyan does not agree with what they are doing, but she also realizes that she cannot control her friends' choices. What she can control is her own decision, and she is determined to protect her virginity.

The three girls also have dreams beyond their personal problems. Stella desperately wants to become an actress, so she joins a film casting. Unfortunately, her performance is not good enough. Ironically, Biyan, who genuinely loves art, literature, and acting, gets the role instead. She chooses not to tell Stella and refuses the offer because she does not want to hurt her friend.

That decision becomes one of the many sources of conflict between them. Stella becomes angry with Katie because she thinks Katie does not believe in her talent. Katie becomes worried that she might be pregnant after one of her customers accidentally ejaculates inside her. Stella also becomes angry with Biyan because refusing the acting opportunity allows Luna, someone they dislike, to get the role. Their friendship is tested repeatedly, but strangely enough, those conflicts also make their bond stronger.

Then comes the problem that changes everything. The girls lose a car they borrowed from a mafia figure, and now they have to find a way to replace it. Suddenly, Biyan is confronted with the exact choice she has been trying to avoid. To help her friends, is she willing to give up the one thing she has always promised herself she would protect?

That is what makes Virgin interesting to me. When it was released in 2004, discussing teenage sexuality and promiscuity this openly was still highly sensitive. The film was willing to put these issues in front of the audience instead of pretending they did not exist. It does not mean that every choice made by the characters is presented as something admirable. Rather, the film shows that these things can happen around us, even when many people prefer to look away.

The story itself is relatively systematic and easy to follow, and the characters are given enough background to explain why they behave the way they do. Still, the transitions between some parts can feel abrupt, making the story occasionally less smooth than it could have been.

Visually, I think the film still holds up fairly well. The camera movement, framing, and color composition are enjoyable, while the soundtrack and music generally fit the mood of each scene. The performances are another strong point. Both the main and supporting actors play their roles appropriately, but for me, this was the film that made me fall in love with Laudya Cynthia Bella's acting. Her portrayal of Biyan feels convincing, especially in the way she communicates the character's emotions through facial expressions and restraint.

Of course, not everything works perfectly. There are several moments that feel difficult to believe. One example is the literature teacher suddenly entering the classroom and performing in front of the students. The school itself also seems strangely unconcerned about the number of troubled students surrounding it. There is another issue I noticed: the story sometimes feels as though the entire world revolves around the same small group of people, as if there are no other social circles outside them.

And then there is the experience of watching the film again years later.

When I first watched Virgin, I found many of its scenes impressive. Watching it again in a different era produces a slightly different reaction. Some moments now feel undeniably cringe. The birthday scene, for example, when Biyan suddenly stands on a table and starts singing to calm the chaos, made me think, “What is this person doing? Why is she suddenly singing?” Hehehe. The same thing happens when Biyan writes in her diary using slang. At the time, it may have sounded natural and contemporary. Today, some of it feels a little awkward.

But perhaps that is also part of what makes revisiting older films interesting. We do not only watch the film again—we watch it from a different version of ourselves. The same scene can make us laugh, cringe, or feel nostalgic depending on how much time has passed.

One of the scenes I remember most is when Stella, disappointed with her friends, locks herself away in her house. Biyan and Katie both try to cheer her up. Coincidentally, they come up with almost exactly the same idea: giving Stella information about an advertisement casting they found in the newspaper.

It is a simple scene, but I think it captures something essential about friendship. Arguments and misunderstandings are unavoidable in close relationships. Friends can hurt each other, become jealous, and make choices the others do not understand. But when the friendship is sincere, there is often still a part of us that does not want to see the other person suffer. Even after an argument, we may still instinctively look for a way to help.

That is also why Biyan's line, “Gw nggak mau ngelepas virgin gw,” feels important. It is not simply about virginity. For Biyan, it represents a boundary she has chosen for herself. And the real dilemma comes when keeping that boundary might mean failing to help the people she loves.

In the end, Virgin remains an interesting film to revisit, especially for teenagers and parents. The film may feel dated in some ways, and some scenes are certainly harder to take seriously today than they were when I first watched them. But its warning about the world teenagers can enter, the pressures behind their choices, and the consequences of those choices still have relevance.

Perhaps the most important lesson is not about judging Biyan, Stella, or Katie. It is about understanding that behind risky behavior there can be loneliness, insecurity, financial pressure, the desire to belong, or simply the need to be loved. Sometimes what looks like a bad choice from the outside begins with a very human need.

And maybe that is why this old film is still worth watching. Not because everything in it still feels believable, but because it gives us a chance to look back and ask ourselves: when someone makes a choice we disagree with, do we only see the mistake—or do we try to understand the person behind it?

(Aluna Uwie)

Previously published on Alunauwie.com.

"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."