Girl, Interrupted, 1999

Girl, Interrupted, 1999
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg



Stage: Home theatre, late Sunday night


Girl, Interrupted in short: Susanna is rushed to the hospital. Afterwards she discusses this with a psychiatrist. She had been having some delusions. She had also been having an affair with the husband of her parents' friend. The doctor suggests that combining a bottle of aspirin and a bottle of vodka was a suicide attempt. This she denies. He recommends a short period of rest at Claymoore. Claymoore is a private mental hospital full of noisy, crazy people. Georgina is a pathological liar. Polly has been badly scarred by fire. Daisy won't eat in the presence of other people. Lisa is a sociopath, the biggest exasperation for the staff - like Nurse Valerie - and the biggest influence on the other girls in the hospital. Lisa has a history of escapes, so gaining access to personal medical files is not a problem... Susanna's boyfriend Toby is concerned that she seems too comfortable living with her institutionalized friends.


Preps: Angelina got an oscar for this piece. Winona was nominated, I think. Something I haven't seen before and definitely need to see it. It's an oldie, but I think I might like it. The trailer tells me it's the topic that interests me.


Reality: Narrator (Winona) begins with.. "Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted"

Winona is right. Sometimes you need to go a bit crazy to understand the real world. Where else do you submit to be analyzed and cured at an institution which doesn't want to give you a leave or let you go. It's a bit sad watching how an institution can influence a sane person (or at least turn someone with a few weird characteristics into a complete looney). A place, where sane people are kept because they tread on the system, and sick ones are left home, where they cut their veins and keep chicken in the fridge to please the father that's raping them.

The movie will strike you with the reality of the scenes and the horror it might pose down your bloodstream. You are terrified to find yourself once in a place like this and you need to think out of the box to convey the message. If you are placed in an institution, lie because otherwise you won't escape :)
To be quite honest, this must be one of the best Angelina Jolie's casts. I adored her also in the Changeling - the serious role of a mother that loses a child. I think that serious drama movies fit her better than action movies. Yes, she's a hot chick, but appereantly she can contribute much more to the cause than just a nice ass and hot lips. So use her in those roles, instead of only action Lara Croft figures! :) (Maybe action brings more money, I don't know. But I have grown a deep respect for her in drama casts).

Winona is superb also. I just love the dialogue these two "more sane" women are having all the time and the adventures they are a part of being kept in a looney house. It devastates my mind to think about the impact you have on your soul, if you are working in a place like this. The scenery is superb, the dialogues are witty and intelligent, the music brings /adds on, where necessary.

The movie is more than worth seeing. It's worth thinking about it and the limit you are willing to admit (to yourself and to others), what is a sane person and what an insane looks (feels, thinks) like. When are we insane and aren't we all in certain moments? Should we all be locked or would the locking benefit to our image of ourselves at some point? Winona after a while doesn't want to leave the institution that she took shelter in. The same I have at home, she says and refuses to leave.
As if we build the cage we are caught in. And are our own prisoners, keepers and managers.

P.s. Exclusively nice to see Whoopi Goldberg, even though it's a relatively old movie.


My personal rating: 8,0 (a splendid show-off of lunecy vs. sanity. And a superb cast. You will enjoy the two dames in their prime roles. Plus, have fun with the dialogues and looney actions.)


Girl, Interrupted on IMDB