Virginia (originally titled What's Wrong with Virginia) is a 2010 film written and directed by Dustin Lance Black and starring Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Emma Roberts, Carrie Preston, and Toby Jones.
Contents
Plot
In a small town, mentally unstable Virginia has a two-decade affair with a local married sheriff, Dick Tipton. Her son Emmett acts as her protector. During Emmett's quest for the truth of his father's identity, he begins a relationship with Tipton's daughter Jessie.
Production
The film was shot in West Michigan (Holland, Grand Haven, South Haven, Saugatuck, Zeeland) during fall of 2009 in seven weeks on local streets, homes, and businesses. The project was filmed in Michigan, the decision having been taken to film there due to a state program offering incentives to the entertainment industry. To create Virginia's style, Dustin Lance Black requested Jennifer Connelly's advice to design the set of the character's house, as well as the selection of wardrobe she uses through the film.
Throughout filming and for its premiere at the TIFF, the film was titled What's Wrong With Virginia. Black re-cut the film following its poor initial reception, and it was subsequently re-titled Virginia for theatrical release. IndieWire quoted Black as saying that the film "was pretty bad. So I opened up the edit and got a new editor and went back to script and finishing that film."