Hysterical Blindness (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, Juliette Lewis, Gena Rowlands

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 18 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:

looking at oneself in a mirror | crying woman | imaginary boyfriend | billiard cue | billiard table | 

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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:

21 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cegueira Histérica

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Blum Israel Productions, 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

The movie is set in 1987, but there are many late-90's model vehicles.

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Quotes

Beth: Play anything by Zeppelin, you can't go wrong.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.196 (2006)

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Soundtracks

Dance Hall Days
Written by Jack Hues
Performed by Wang Chung

User Reviews

Excellent Performances from Thurman and Lewis

An excellent and accurate portrayal of lower-middle class 20-something barflies in the 80s, desperate for affection and attention, and willing to do anything for it. Uma Thurman and Juliette Lewis are the quintessential trashy girls of the 80s. Uma Thurman plays "Deb", a self-centered secretary who doesn't want anyone to be happy unless she's happy, including her best friend "Beth" (also expertly played by Juliette Lewis) and her mother (Gena Rowlands). Tragically flawed with low self-esteem, she covers it up with fantasies of happily ever after, even fooling herself, while the more level-headed, but also flawed Beth tries to do her best to stay happy with her absent-fathered daughter and inject a little reality into Deb's world. If you were of age in rural or suburban 1980s, you must see this film.