Beginning in March, the weather in North Carolina begins to gradually warm up. Although before I came here, I‘ve heard many people saying that the spring in North Carolina is pretty long, as a person who has spent the past three years in Boston, I am still pleasantly surprised by this warm weather. Especially this weekend with temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees, it even gave me the illusion that summer has arrived. Perhaps it was this anticipation and love for summer that made me choose The August Virgin from the film list.
The August Virgin is a 2019 Spanish film directed by Jonás Trueba. It tells the story of Eva, a young woman who decides to spend the month of August in Madrid, a city that has emptied out as people go on vacation. Eva uses this time to reflect on her life and relationships, preparing for a significant change in her life. If I had to use one word to sum up the film, I think it might be "exploration". What exactly is Eva exploring in Madrid? Maybe it's her own future, maybe it’s her relationship with others, or maybe it’s her relationship with herself.
(Eva standing alone on the street after encountering her ex; source from https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/movieimage.php?imageId=940255536)
What stood out to me most about the film was seeing Eva transform from a very passive social person to someone who actively builds relationships with strangers, and at the same time, is brave enough to express her needs. At the very beginning of the movie, when Eva failed to open the gate of her flat at the midnight, she had to call Sofía, an old friend she hadn't contacted for a long time. After facing Sofía’s question about why she hadn't contacted her for so many years, Eva was apparently very at a loss because she didn't seem to know the reason.
When seeing the clip, I found it surprisingly relatable. Recalling back to the friends we met when we were growing up, how many of them are we still actively keeping in touch with today? It could be college and work that separates us from our former friends, making us go to different cities where we encounter new people and new experiences. Like Eva, I am also a very passive person in interpersonal relationships. I often don't know how to start a conversation with someone I haven't seen in a long time, and I will afraid that I may disturb those who could be experiencing a new life. It is these concerns that cause me to always click into the text box and then exit without sending a message. Does it mean that I no longer care about them anymore? Definitely no. Just like Sofía if one day my former close friends come to me, I will be more than happy to help.
(Eva and Sofía discussing their relationship over the years; source from https://kaist455.com/2022/03/26/the-august-virgin-2019/)
However, after watching Eva's story, I realized that those concerns impeding me connect with others are often unnecessary. When Eva, Sofía, and their new friends go to the beach, Eva was the only one who covers herself in clothes, which led to her friend’s joke “You are not very Spanish.” The plot reminds me of a common phenomenon. Although many girls today are fond of collecting pretty clothes and dresses, instead of wearing them and showing them off in front of people, they often just hang them in the closet. When asked why they do not wear the clothes, many of them always answer "I want to wait until I get fitter" "I'm afraid that it won't be appropriate to wear them to work/school" or "I worry that people will judge me based on what I dress. " These answers not only reflect women's inner unassertiveness but also their anxiety about their figure as well as their concern about external gaze and judgment. Nevertheless, since it’s extremely hard to truly silence the external voices, the only ones who can encourage women to boldly free themselves, put on cute clothes, and wear pretty makeup are women themselves. Just like when Eva was suddenly thrown into the water by her friends, after experiencing a moment of anxiety, she naturally took off her blouse and started to swim freely.
(Eva taking off her shirt and enjoying being in the water; source from https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-august-virgin-review-la-virgen-de-agosto-1234742815/)
To conclude, The August Virgin is a thoughtful and nuanced film that not only captures the feeling of a city in the middle of summer but also well depicts the complex and often messy dynamics of relationships. It shows us the transformation of Eva, and at the same time, it also encourages more women to liberate themselves like Eva, and assertively pursue what they want.