Damsels in Distress (2011)

A trio of girls set out to change the male-dominated environment of the Seven Oaks college campus, and to rescue their fellow students from depression, grunge and low standards of every kind.

Director:

Whit Stillman

Writer:

Whit Stillman (screenplay)

Stars:

Greta Gerwig, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Analeigh Tipton

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greta Gerwig	...	Violet
Carrie MacLemore	...	Heather
Megalyn Echikunwoke	...	Rose
Analeigh Tipton	...	Lily
Ryan Metcalf	...	Frank
Jermaine Crawford	...	Jimbo
Caitlin FitzGerald	...	Priss
Zach Woods	...	Rick DeWolfe
Domenico D'Ippolito	...	Complainer Student
Nick Blaemire	...	Freak Astaire
Aubrey Plaza	...	Depressed Debbie
Hugo Becker	...	Xavier
Meredith Hagner	...	Alice
Joe Coots	...	Barman
Adam Brody	...	Fred Packenstacker / Charlie Walker

Storyline

Violet and her two cohorts attempt to help their "less-fortunate" students at Seven Oaks College - primarily by running a Suicide Prevention Centre and offering their off-beat advice whenever they get a chance. Violet's newest rescue is transfer student, Lily, and Violet wants to teach her how to talk and dress properly, and how to select appropriate men to be interested in. Along their way in helping everybody at the college, the damsels teach the fraternity doofi to hit the books, they get their hearts broken, but then attempt to start an international dance craze.

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Plot Keywords:

college | fraternity | depression | transfer student | dance craze | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content including some sexual material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2012 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Algebra in Love

Filming Locations:

Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$58,589 (USA) (6 April 2012)

Gross:

$1,007,535 (USA) (17 August 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Westerly Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Numerous characters are named after flowers.

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Quotes

Violet: Seven Oaks is the last of the Select Seven to go co-ed. Unanimous fear of male barbarism predominates. We're going to change that.

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Crazy Credits

Apologies to Johann Strauss Jr. - the Waltz James P. Johnson - the Charleston Ernest 'Chubby Checker' Evans - the Twist

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Connections

References La Grande Illusion (1937)

User Reviews

Monsters in the campus

Stillman's first feature in 13 years investigates the merciless social rules within a campus: it's fun, as wittily and entertainingly dialogued as his previous efforts, but way more off-beat and darkly screwballish. It almost plays as an intellectual version of cult favorite "Heathers" (it might be no coincidence if it also revolves around a bunch of co-eds named after flowers), sparing us the B-movieish third act of Michael Lehmann's film. Lots of fun, with a musical twist around the end that might be able to improve the film's chances to cult-ness.

I caught "Damsels in Distress" in Venice, where it was selected out of competition as the closing film for 2011's festival. Audience was quite appreciative, laughing out loud throughout the whole screening.