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Diary Date Goofs & Possible Tarot Deck Goof

posted 10 years ago by ElxDiablo
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So, when the boys are looking through Cecilia's diary you may remember seeing an entry with the word "UNICORN" in the center.

The top of that diary entry is marked as "Tuesday, March 10":

http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/The-Virgin-Suicides/pages/The-Virgin-Suicides-242.htm

We're told that the film is set in "MICHIGAN 25 YEARS AGO"...but for a film that came out in 1999, that would naturally lead us to assume that the events take place in 1974...which according to the diary shown, is impossible.

Still, the clothes make it clear we're looking for a date within the 70's...so, a look through a calender for any 70's date that aligns with this day-of-the-week/date configuration, and you're left with only 1970.

The surrounding years on which March 10 falls on a Tuesday are 1964 and 1981, which do not correspond with the decor and clothing. I don't think there's a person alive who could successfully argue that this film depicts 1981.

Which leaves us with a big problem!

Cecilia's tarot card deck is a US Games Rider Waite reprint, as we can tell from the card backs that Petter Sissen steps over on his way to the bathroom:

http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/The-Virgin-Suicides/pages/The-Virgin-Suicides-088.htm

...which were first published in 1971.

http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/Cardbacks.html

Some might argue otherwise, but I'm calling this one a goof.

But it gets better (or worse)...

As I watch the film, one of the boys (I forget his name...the one on the left) actually reads out an entry and says "Monday, February 13th...Today we had frozen pizza".

http://screenmusings.org/movie/dvd/The-Virgin-Suicides/pages/The-Virgin-Suicides-226.htm

Looking at all the possible dates that align with that during the 70's I only came up with 1978. The surrounding years for which this day-of-the-week/date align are 1967 and 1984.

Either way, we're now looking at a magical diary, where the boys can read an entry immediately after one which is obviously about the endangered "Turbot frog", as per Cecilia's conversation with her mother in the kitchen during Peter Sissen's visit (inferred from the images of the diary shown in the film...although, it's not visible in those stills).

At the time of Peter Sissen's visit, she doesn't have bandages on, so we know it's before her first attempt. Also, that visit (if you've read the books) happens within a year of Cecilia's suicide attempt, as Bonnie's age is mentioned:

Bonnie was the only one who didn't give Peter Sissen a secret look or kick. She only said grace and ate her food silently, lost in the piety of a fifteen-year old.

So, according to that entry, the year is 1978, yet they can flick even further through the diary and come out in 1970.

Having the year set as 1978 would solve the whole issue of the Tarot deck publication, but still, the diary dates are a goof all on their own!

[–] mjlangenbru 9 years ago

1 - It's a movie.

2 - Couldn't Cecilia have made an error or two on dates or days of the week?

[–] ElxDiablo 9 years ago

That's why I used the word "possible" in relation to "goof".

Starting with point 2 -

Cecilia could have made an error...but it seems unlikely that someone who obsessively writes in their diary, and lists the minute details of what they eat for dinner each night, would also write the wrong day of the week at the start of their entries (especially the ones that just happen to be shown on screen).

And on point 1 -

You're not wrong to say that "It's a movie"...and that's the point.

This could be a legitimate goof by someone who was in a hurry to manufacture a diary that approximates the one described in the book (and with specific passages that would be integrated into the script), for use in the film.

Hence...I'm listing these things as possible date goofs, and my reasons for it.

Anyhow -

I wanted to know for sure when the events of this film are supposed to have occurred, and (amongst other things), looked at the diary dates, and discovered these glaring inconsistencies...

...Hence, why I think they may warrant being called "goofs".

You may not think it rises to such a title, but personally I think that someone as detailed orientated as Sofia Coppola would not have purposefully let something like that through, but nor would she have time to do something as menial as create the diary herself.

Most likely, the creation of the diary was outsourced to someone in the props department with "girly handwriting". They would have been given an outline, style guide-line, specific notes from the book, and sections of script that needed to be integrated within its pages. That person would then have been left to do the leg work.

The finished product was probably checked on the above criteria, and given the green light without anyone checking the consistency of the days of the week/dates.

...Alternatively...

They wanted the exact details of when these events took place to remain elusive, so they purposely created an impossible time-line within the days of the week/dates of the diary.

The only person who can answer that would be Sofia Coppola and/or her props department.

Personally, I tend to go with the former, which would make it a goof...but if it's the latter, then it's trivia.

Take your pick! :)