girl interupted

i saw this movie on tv last night. its sorta disturbing, but all the feelings its stirs up are neccessary. what i thought was most interesting about the movie was the time period. it took place in the late 60's, where i get the feeling that the knowledge on mental health wasn't nearly what it is today

 

I just thought it sucked, the only thing it stirred up in me is questions like:
"Why are women so crazy?"
"How could a person get so low as to commit suicide?"
"Why does Winona Ryder get to kiss Angelina Jolie?"

 

i remember seeing the movie when it first came out... i thought life could never be that disturbing and truthful.

but here i am...16...yes 16. life is that truthful and diturbing...and so are mental hospitals...they are wretched...and i learned life is such a beautiful thing as long as you embrace it.

 

I thought that movie was great. I'm not a Winona fan AT ALL but I thought she really nailed that part - double for Angelina Jolie, she kicked some serious ass. MountainMan, you're totally right, the knowledge back then of mental illnesses was nothing compared to today. By the way, if anyone is interested, there's a published version of Susanna Kasen's diary out, it's really quite interesting.

 

When I was sixteen, I was diagnosed with Bipolar and I attempted suicide, something I am not proud of. Fifty pills and I did not die (I am a very skinny young man.) I see life as a gift now. Anyhow, while I was in a mental hospital, my mother bought me a book: Girl, Interrupted. I read it in two days, taking it with me everywhere (or everywhere I could go.) It struck a chord with me. Here I was in a hospital, living the book. When I got out, I bought the film and I immediately connected with it. Times may have changed and policies may have changed but the feeling this film captured was undeniable. I believe this is a good film. It may have been marketed as a "chick flick" (whatever that is) but it is for anyone who can connect.

Comparing the book and the film with each other is almost imposible because of the extreme differences. For example, Jolie's character plays a very minor part in the book.

Getting on topic again, I believe this film, while corny sometimes, is an emotional rollercoaster for me. Only some can admit to connecting with this film. I have it in my collection of over 300 DVDs but I pull it out once a year to remind me where I have been and what my life means to me.

Peace

 

Hi Super_girl,
I agree this was an awesome movie, Angelina Jolie was my favorite character in it. Yes the hospitals were really bad back then and i will tell you, today state hospitals are just as bad yet. Having Bipolar disorder i know what they go through, i have been in a mental hospital twice. The first one was a nightmare, Overdosing patients on drugs and physical and verbal abuse to. I thought the people working there were more Insane than the patients. Most people can't comprehend what mental illness is like because they dont have it. It's like at times some invisible force takes over your mind, a force much stronger than you that takes away all your control. it feels more like demon possesion than mental illness. Thats why medication is used to overcome those feelings. I can tell you without the medication i'm on i would be insane, no doubt about it. I know from experience. thats the best way i can discribe it to the people that dont understand, and the illnesses that this movie is talking about.

 

You know, I really didn't like the movie that much. I liked the book much better. I could connect with it so much more, all the intricate details of being an inpatient. I know,I've been there. I could hardly beleive that there was a book like this. I think someone posted earlier that this is the best way someone who has never experienced a mental illness to understand what it's like.

And MAN!! What I would do to get a dose of the thorazine they gave out!! Sounds very... calming!

 

.

 

This is an awesome movie. It was filmed in my city, It was actually filmed in mental homes, halfway houses, and underground tunnels under the hospitals. I have been in some of the places in a few of the scenes which is pretty damned cool.

 

I shoulda been clued in when my ex said she identified with Winona's character... *sigh*


Great movie, though, haven't read the book... unfortunately, I don't think I've the heart to anymore. One day, perhaps!

 

I really like this movie, I allready watched it 5 times at least, though I can´t stand Angelina Jolie. I´ve started to read the book, too. The movie and book got even more interesting while learning about depressions and such at school. We even watched the movie as the ending of that class theme.

 

The book is alot better. Its a true stories although hollywood as always changes history... Susanna Cayson Is a real woman... Who went into a mental ward... I recomend reading the book

 

me too. I just finished it (for the 10th time) a few days ago. The book captures mental illness and what someone goes through much better.

 

I love that movie!
Sometimes I think the same things that Winona Ryder tought in that movie..
before seeing it ,I've read also the book ..

I don't think that women are crazy, but there will be always bad moments in our life
and people accept it in different ways

 

I loved the movie! I liked everything about it really, except for the very ending...that part I thought was a little hokey. But yeah, I though it was great...I've seen it a ton.

 

I really like that movie, mostly cause I can relate to some of the stuff in the movie

 

l watched it because Angelina Jolie is in it and I enjoy movies about old mental institutions...

 

I felt a definite connection to many of Winona's characters melancholy scenes. It hit close to home. I had never seen Angelina Jolie before that film, and she made a huge first impression on me. Her character also touched me.

It made me sad, but I think it was supposed to, so I guess that's good?

 

I am watching the film at this very moment. I feel like it hleps me to relax some. I am Bipolar with Personality Disorders and for the last 12 years I myself been 'living it'.

Even though the film takes place in the 1960's not alot has changed in Mental Health. So much I am able to relate to. The Line of "Then you will just have to agree to disagree" many other parts of the movie. The Suberban Family is so much like that in the film, where as the parents of Ryder character have her to go in a cab instead of 'dealing with or being seen with' the daughter to the Mental Hospital.

When I was 17, I experienced that in a sense for the first time ever when my Mom had the Sheriff Officers come to my school and 'pick me up' to be driven over 45 minutes away having no idea I was going and the feeling of the tears and trauma sitting in the back of a Police car against my will having commited no crime, other than not wanting to live at home and 2 small cigarette burns on my arm ended me the first experience in itself of a psych institution, 2 months I stayed there. Ordered like some criminal what and when to do it.

Down to the point of being 17 years old and having someone watch me as I showered...Any way I was trying to see the name of the book, is it called Girl Interrupted as well? I really relate to the movie and know I would love the book.

The one thing in the movie I wish were still true were the allowing to smoke on the ward..or smoke at all.

 

love love love that movie.....it's so real and so true, plus angelina jolie was in it