Girl, Interrupted (1999)

HomeFilmGirl, Interrupted

That title, the theme of mental instability and the presence of Winona Ryder might indicate a documentary but, long before the actress was accompanied to the manager's office at Saks, she headlined this drama set in a psychiatric hospital. It's the venue for 17-year-old Susanna (Winona Ryder), who is diagnosed with a personality disorder after a half-hearted suicide attempt. Compared to her fellow patients, including sociopath Lisa (Angelina Jolie), over-eater Daisy (Brittany Murphy) and burns victim Polly (Elisabeth Moss), ­she's sane.

Recovering memories, Susanna recalls sleeping with her fellow student Tobias (Jared Leto). The next day he appears and they briefly repeat the liaison, and she refuses his offer to run away to Canada. Instead, she absconds with Lisa, heading to meet the recently discharged Daisy. At the flat, Lisa confronts Daisy about her father's sexual abuse. The next morning, the girls' lives change forever, and their destinies are determined...

James Mangold's template of­ "ostracised loner seeks tainted redemption" worked brilliantly in Heavy and Cop Land. In this project (the first time he has teamed with other writers) he seems less assured but the cast do the heavy lifting; with Ryder in stunning form, eclipsing Jolie, whose by-the-numbers psycho seems uninspired by comparison (although guess who won the Oscar?) A series of A-list cameos from Whoopi Goldberg, Vannesa Redgrave and Jeffrey Tambor are equally impressive.

Girl, Interrupted is a Film programme that first aired in 1999 and has been rated 15.

Girl, Interrupted is a 3 star programme.

Next Show Times

• United Kingdom

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