Is this Girl really Interrupted? (Girl, Interrupted (DVD))

Member Name: lisajo

Product:	Girl, Interrupted (DVD)
Date:	07/07/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great film, makes you think deeply about psychiatric illnesses

Disadvantages: None for me

Girl Interrupted in set in the late 1960's and mainly takes place at the renowned New England psychiatric hospital and is based on the memoirs of Susanna Kaysen. The book, of the same name, was released in 1993.

Susanna Kaysen - played by Winona Ryder finds herself admitted to New England Pyshciatric hospital after a half hearted attempt at suicide lead her to a session with her new psychiatrist who diagnosed her with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She finds herself making friends with fellow patients Lisa (Angelina Jolie) and Daisy (Brittany Murphy) . She spends nearly two years and the hospital.

The story follows how the friends all cope with the time spent in the hospital, yet all coping with different illness.

Lisa (Jolie)
Lisa is a sociopath, ex-junkie who barely eats and never sleeps. And regularly escapes from the hospital. I don't personally believe that Lisa really is a sociopath, but that she enjoys causing the staff upset and annoyance and wants to live her life that way and has no intentions of getting better.

Daisy (Murphy)
Daisy is obsessive compulsive and eats chicken all the time. The has a strange goal to collect a particular number of carcasses before she can leave New England. She is addicted to laxatives and her dad is a bit of perv! I shall not spoil.

I thoroughly enjoy this film each and every time I watch it. Jolie and Murphy shine for me - Oh and Whoopi Goldberg and the psychiatric ward nurse is just the best. I can take or leave Ryder but her portrayal as Susanna, the adolescent girl with BPD is impressive.

The films itself questions boundaries for me. Does confining crazy people with crazy people make for a great healing atmosphere, or does it just make the whole world crazy. Should these girls be free in society with responsibilities?

My Favourite Quote by Susanna
"What kind of sex isn't casual?"

The score, by Mychael Danna, didn't hugely stand out for me, though was adequately drab at the right times!
Jolie won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Girl Interrupted. She also won a Golden Globe and an Empire award for her role.

Director: James Mangold
Writer: James Mangold (Screenplay)
Susanna Kaysen (Book)
Soundtrack: Mychael Danna
Running Time: 125 minutes
UK Release: March 2000

Review also on ciao - theshinyone July 2009

Summary: Jolie won an Oscar / Empire Award / Golden Globe for her part