Girl, Interrupted (1999)

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

Director:

James Mangold

Writers:

Susanna Kaysen (book), James Mangold (screenplay)

Stars:

Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Winona Ryder	...	Susanna
Angelina Jolie	...	Lisa
Clea DuVall	...	Georgina (as Clea Duvall)
Brittany Murphy	...	Daisy
Elisabeth Moss	...	Polly
Jared Leto	...	Tobias Jacobs
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Dr. Potts
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Dr. Wick
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Valerie
Angela Bettis	...	Janet
Jillian Armenante	...	Cynthia
Drucie McDaniel	...	M-G
Alison Claire	...	Gretta
Christina Myers	...	Margie
Joanna Kerns	...	Annette

Storyline

In 1967, Susanna Kaysen had a headache and chased a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. This landed her in the mental institution, Claymoore. Here she is diagnosed, by Dr. Melvin Potts, with borderline personality disorder. When she arrives at Claymoore, she is greeted by Nurse Valerie Owens and shown round the woman's ward. Here she meets Georgina Tuskin, a pathological liar who is fixated with The Wizard of Oz; Polly Clark, a childlike schizophrenic; Janet Webber, a sardonic anorexic patient; Daisy Randone, a girl who won't let anyone in her room, and only eats her father's chicken; and Lisa Rowe, a sociopath who controls the other patients, and makes lives hard for the nurses at Claymoore. Through the movie, Lisa gains and loses control over Susanna and we see how bad she really can be. The movie's ending shows Susanna being released from Claymoore after an 18-month stay. How does Susanna take back her control? This movie battles subjects such as mental heath, abuse, ...

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Plot Keywords:

mental hospital | based on true story | mental institution | female protagonist | borderline personality disorder | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes the only way to stay sane is to go a little crazy

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was one of many roles in which Winona Ryder's character writes in a diary.

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Goofs

At the 1968 party after Susanna and Lisa are picked up in the microbus, The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues", released in 1970, is playing.

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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 60s. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.

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Alternate Versions

Director James Mangold states in the DVD commentary that the original cut was three hours long. This version has not been shown publicly nor released on any media; however, the DVD contains 15 minutes of the scenes deleted from the final cut.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Oldest Actors to Play Teenagers in Movies (2016)

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Soundtracks

Adeste Fideles
Performed by Wiener Sängerknaben (as Vienna Boys Choir)
Courtesy of LaserLight Digital
By Arrangement with Source/Q

User Reviews

A masterpiece in movie history!

I loved this movie from on the first day I saw it. This story is so unique in its way showing the problems many people have to face when being young. The best thing about this movie is, that it's based upon the experience of the real Susanna Kaysen, which means that the story is not only real but also natural and not "brightened up" for entertainment. It shows reality as it is! The actors do a really great job and among other acting personalities we can find Whoopie Goldberg, Winona Ryder and Jared Leto which seem just perfect for the roles they embody. The story, which seems to me loving and cruel at the same time, is pictured by a wonderful musical score and great songs more or less known from those hard days known as the 60's. This movie is a MUST for everyone who is seeking for a deep, thoughtful and emotional film as well as great actors!

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Girl, Interrupted

Filming Locations:

2100 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$95,399, 26 December 1999

Gross USA:

$28,912,646

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,350,205

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Red Wagon Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1