Girl, interrupted is a 1999 film directed by James Mangold, based on the true story of Susanna Kaysen, written down in her diary. The film is set in 1969. The protagonist, Susanna, appears immediately unconventional, has aspirations (to the question “what will you do next?” answers with a simple “I just want to write”) are not understood by the bigoted society in which it is found, which also criticizes the sex life of Susanna, will in fact be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder even for alleged “promiscuous” attitudes. When she is hospitalized, she meets the patients: Daisy, a girl abused by her father, self-injuring, Polly, who has to face every day her disfigured face, Georgina, a pathological liar, Janet, an anorexic girl and finally Lisa, A short-tempered, uncontrollable sociopath with no empathy to the point of driving a girl to suicide. It is with her that Susanna will make a special friendship, a friendship that will degenerate until the protagonist re-evaluates his entire journey.
The film, in addition to being very engaging and well represent its history, also provides a social picture of the 60s/70s, which although years of change still see a culture that wants girls in a certain way, that divides them into categories without allowing them to express themselves (perhaps this is what led Susanna to ingest a bottle of drugs along with a bottle of alcohol).
The film is to be seen in one breath, it starts and ends without the viewer expecting it, thanks to the involvement that it is able to create.
A winning feature of this film is undoubtedly the cast: Winona Ryder (Susanna), Angelina Jolie (Lisa) and again Whoopi Goldberg, Jared Leto, Brittany Murphy.
Angelina Jolie’s performance is amazing, realistic and touching. She won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her role as Lisa Rowe.
Another detail I appreciated was the use of Petula Clark’s “down town” song as a soundtrack.
Personally I really enjoyed the film, which I discovered by chance a few years ago and to which I am particularly fond.
“Anyone who tells you “just get over it” is not someone that you need in your life, ever”
Valeria Del Sordo 4N
