Virgin Machine

Monday, February 9, 2026

Special Events

  • Mon Feb 9 : 

    Intro by programmers Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd at 8:00

    Buy Tickets

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

Monday, February 9 at 8:00: Introduction by programmers Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd

“An unusual search for romantic love.”

Dorothee Müller (Ina Blum) is a German journalist researching an article about the nature of romantic love—something she desperately needs, given her dysfunctional relationships with former lover Heinz (Gad Klein) and brother Bruno (Marcelo Uriona). In the Oz of San Francisco, Dorothee finds exactly what she was looking for—and then some—thanks to the help of lesbian strip show barker Susie Sexpert (Susie Bright), drag king Ramona (Shelly Mars), and her mysteriously kinky neighbors (Cleo Dubois and Fakir Musafar). When Dorothy surfaces like a dazzled tourist on the wilder shores of the city’s thriving lesbian community, she has discovered her true sexuality…and left some illusions behind.

Part German Expressionist satire, part sapphic travelogue, Monika Treut’s VIRGIN MACHINE (DIE JUNGFRAUENMASCHINE) is a seminal—and fiercely controversial—work of lesbian cinema.

Screening as part of our monthly queer series programmed and hosted by Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd, Cruising the Movies

  • Country West Germany
  • Language German with English subtitles, English
  • Year 1988
  • Running Time 84 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Muscle Distribution
  • Director Monika Treut
  • Cast Ina Blum, Shelly Mars, Dominique Gaspar, Susie Bright
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.