Hysterical Blindness (TV 2002)

Two friends lament their unhappy single lives while searching for Mr. Right in 1980s New Jersey.

Director:

Mira Nair

Writers:

Laura Cahill (play), Laura Cahill (teleplay)

Stars:

Uma Thurman, Gena Rowlands, Juliette Lewis

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Uma Thurman	...	Debby Miller
Gena Rowlands	...	Virginia Miller
Juliette Lewis	...	Beth
Justin Chambers	...	Rick
Ben Gazzara	...	Nick
Anthony DeSando	...	Bobby (as Anthony De Sando)
Jolie Peters	...	Amber Autumn
Callie Thorne	...	Carolann
Lisa Altomare	...	Dora
Laura Cahill	...	Tonya
Johann Carlo	...	Susan
Alex Draper	...	Michael
Russell Gibson	...	Diner Customer
Jayne Haynes	...	Annie
Susan Isaacs	...	Theresa

Storyline

In this bittersweet slice of working class single New Jersey life, best friends Debby and Beth (both pushing thirty) go looking for love in the wrong place - namely their favorite bar, Oliver's. Rugged contractor Rick eyes Beth but ends up going home with the more assertive Debby. Beth's style is further cramped by the responsibilities of single motherhood. As Debby tries to parlay what was essentially a casual fling into possible marriage with an indifferent Rick, her mother Virginia wonders if her affair with widower Nick is the real thing. Rounding out the romantic possibilities is Bobby, the bartender who flirts with Beth. The women clash as plans go awry, tragedy strikes, and hearts get broken. In the end, Debby, Beth, and Virginia find, if not the relationships of their dreams, peace with each other and within themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

1980s | bartender | bar | footsie under the table | dancing | 

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Taglines:

In the 80's, they said love was a battlefield...they were right.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2003 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Ceguera histérica

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blum Israel Productions, Home Box Office (HBO), Karuna Dream

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior of the bar is actually an apartment building in Paterson, New Jersey. Beer signs and background actors were placed in the windows (which themselves were altered to match the windows at the interior bar location) to create the appearance of a bar. The interiors were filmed at a closed-down bar/restaurant in Bayonne, New Jersey.

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Goofs

At about 1 hour 10 minutes during Debbie's bedroom scene a hand holding the boom can be seen in the left side of the mirror.

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Quotes

Debby Miller: Beth!Why'd you have to congratulate her?
Beth: I don't know.She's a human being, isn't she?
Debby Miller: She's wearing pink shoes.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.196 (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Invincible"
Performed by Pat Benatar

User Reviews

A very pleasant surprise

I think all women under 40 should see this movie.Thumbs up for the women director's vision on the issues depicted in this movie.Uma Thurman is absolutely gorgeous,very talented,very subtle.All actors are great.This is what women should mostly watch,not soap operas,Pretty Woman,Titanic and other crap.If all movies, TV and music would follow the same pattern of this movie (and other), as opposed to unrealistic,cheesy crap that you usually find,the world would be a better place, for both men and women. The scene in the end where Uma's character makes a spectacle of herself in the pub is right there with Pacino's "say hello to my little friend!".Beautiful.Realistic.Interesting.Shattering.

I am speechless, 10 points.