Girl, Interrupted (1999)

I don't know the reason —it was probably on some list somewhere, probably on BuzzFeed— but many years ago I decided to check out Girl, Interrupted, and I ended up loving it. It's been ten years since then so I figured it was time to rewatch it.

Based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir —which I've been meaning to read for years but still is on my to-read list— the story follows Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder), a neurotic and volatile 18-year-old who is admitted to a mental institution after she attempts to commit suicide. In the confined borders of the institution, Susanna befriends the other troubled girls in her ward, including the seductive, manipulative and dangerous Lisa (Angelina Jolie).

The kind that doesn't really have a beginning, a middle or an end, Girl, Interrupted's story is really nothing new, it's often predictable and clichéd, and the pacing is quite slow, and yet it's compelling and really draws you in as Susanna's story unfolds before your eyes. It's a story that deals with mental illness and, while its portrayal is quite simplistic —this is a mainstream movie from the 1990s after all—, it does provide an insight on the subject in a respectful way without being melodramatic or overly sentimental. It's also an honest portrayal of friendship and makes a commentary, although pretty superficial, on the Vietnam War.

It's the character though that really stuck with me about Girl, Interrupted as Susanna Kaysen is the first character I've seen in a movie to whom I could relate and still can relate. She is a victim of great expectations, confusion and uncertain future, someone who is trying to understand the meaning of life and find a place where to fit in. She doesn't really understand her condition and this angers her. Winona Ryder does a wonderful job in the role as she effortlessly carries the movie and delivers the character's pain in such a way that you feel sorry for her.

Columbia Pictures

The supporting characters are quite the stereotypes —there's the pathological liar (Clea DuVall), a teenager with the intellect of a child (Elizabeth Moss), a ballerina with an eating disorder (Angela Bettis), a sexually abused young woman who cuts herself and has OCD, a psychotic bitch (Angelina Jolie)— and most of them don't have much of an arc, and yet they are interesting as the cast give great performances, the standout being Angelina Jolie whose portrayal of Lisa earned her an Oscar. She is charming and menacing at the same time, friendly and aggressive, and really brings you inside the head of a sociopath.

The cinematography is nothing extraordinary but it's very natural and helps to draw you into Susanna's world. The score is lovely and the songs are great. Sure, this is not a perfect movie as the script has many flaws, but overall director James Mangold crafted an interesting, tender and non-judgemental film.