Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s.

Director:

James Mangold

Writers:

Susanna Kaysen (book), James Mangold (screenplay),

Stars:

Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Winona Ryder	...	Susanna Kaysen
Angelina Jolie	...	Lisa Rowe
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Valerie Owens, RN
Brittany Murphy	...	Daisy Randone
Clea DuVall	...	Georgina Tuskin (as Clea Duvall)
Elisabeth Moss	...	Polly 'Torch' Clark
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Dr. Sonia Wick
Jared Leto	...	Toby Jacobs
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Dr. Melvin Potts
Angela Bettis	...	Janet Webber
Jillian Armenante	...	Cynthia Crowley
Drucie McDaniel	...	M.G.
Alison Claire	...	Nurse Gretta
Christina Myers	...	Nurse Margie
Joanna Kerns	...	Annette Kaysen

Storyline

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...

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Plot Keywords:

friend | suicide | 1960s | suicide attempt | mental hospital | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and content relating to drugs, sexuality and suicide

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Inocencia interrumpida

Filming Locations:

Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£148,261 (UK) (24 March 2000)

Gross:

$28,871,190 (USA) (28 April 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Art Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The quote that Dr. Wick uses during her first meeting with Susanna is from Lucio Anneo Seneca, a Roman philosopher and father of Stoicism.

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Goofs

When Susanna is meeting with the psychiatrist in the beginning of the movie, the same black car drives by twice. The same cars are parked in the same places when she enters the mental institution, and leaves a year later.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Susanna: [narrating] 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.

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Connections

Referenced in Sex and the City: Boy, Interrupted (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Roadhouse Blues"
Written by 'John Densmore', Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek & Jim Morrison
Performed by The Doors
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Excellent

My eighteen year old daughter and I went to see this movie last night, it was excellent! A must see! Even though I cried through the whole last hour of this movie, it was not a sad film, but a lifting of the human "spirit"! Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie were magnificent. The supporting cast was outstanding. I was amazed when reading the credits at the end that Winona Ryder was an executive producer. Angelina Jolie deserved her Golden Globe Award, she should definately get an Oscar nod if not the win. Winona Ryder deserves some accolades for this wonderful and very enlighting film! Kudos to everyone involved. A Masterpiece!