Girl, Interrupted

The movie begins in 1968, which for America was not so unlike the present. We were a polarized country, torn apart by ethical and moral differences. The external forces were different from those at work today, but the feelings and responses were often the same. Much of America was again trying to disprove the axiom that money doesn't buy happiness. Youth in general was alienated, and the general consensus was that some power apart from the family needed to fix these kids. So when young Susanna Kaysen [Winona Ryder] gets overwhelmed by despair and attempts suicide, the solution is a typical one for her times. She is sent to a mental institution. It is true that there were plenty of mentally ill people in 1968, but it can also be argued that in crazy times, some people go crazy in response. These people are what is known as borderlines, neither crazy nor sane. Susanna, whose story is a true one, is an example of this problem, and she is but one of millions of people.

In the institution, Susanna meets a fascinating set of characters, most of whom are certifiably mentally ill. These are people against which she can weigh her own real or imagined problems. One of them is her room mate Georgina [Clea Duvall], a charming girl who is an admitted pathological liar. There is Daisy [Brittany Murphy], a victim of one of society's greatest taboos, and there is Lisa [Angeline Jolie], someone so disturbed that many patients steer clear of her. After a few weeks, Susanna bonds with many patients and especially with Lisa. They become extremely close. Bonds are difficult to hold together in the 'sane' world, and within a mental hospital, things can fall apart quickly and unexpectedly. This is a setting where an especially intense drama can unfold, and this is exactly what happens in Girl, Interrupted.

Ryder and Duvall, as well as Elizabeth Moss as Polly, give remarkable performances. This is Ryder's best work in several years. As Nurse Valerie, Whoppi Goldberg is finally back at the top of her form. As for Jolie, she is among the top five actresses of her generation and was awarded the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in this movie. She is one of those beautiful people who don't think twice about how they look, if, as in Girl, Interrupted, the character needs to look dreadful at times. As a result, much like the young Bette Davis, audience members often have mixed emotions about Jolie. Ultimately, her brilliance should win them over.

Girl, Interrupted is strong stuff and pulls it punches far less often than is usual in a main stream picture. For reasons which escape me, some people seem to be made uncomfortable by movies which have female bonding as a central theme. For those of you who are like this, not to worry. There's certainly no lack of male bonding movies.