Claire Dawson
Girl, Interrupted is a 1993 memoir by American author Susanna Kaysen, which details her experiences as a young woman in an American psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. The book was adapted into a film in 1999, starring Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, and Brittany Murphy. The film was directed by James Mangold and written by Mangold, Lisa Loomer, and Anna Hamilton Phelan. While the book is based on Susanna Kaysen's experiences at McLean Hospital, the film was shot in and around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, using Harrisburg State Hospital as the treatment setting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author of Girl, Interrupted | Susanna Kaysen |
| Year of publishing Girl, Interrupted | 1993 |
| Type of Girl, Interrupted | Memoir |
| Hospital Girl, Interrupted is based on | McLean Hospital, Boston |
| Year of hospitalization | 1967 |
| Duration of hospitalization | 496 days in residence at the hospital and 121 days on authorized leave |
| Year of film adaptation | 1999 |
| Primary filming location | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Secondary filming location | Harrisburg State Hospital, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
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What You'll Learn
Susanna Kaysen's experiences in McLean Hospital
Susanna Kaysen's memoir, Girl, Interrupted, details her nearly two-year stay at McLean Hospital, a private residential psychiatric treatment centre in Belmont, Massachusetts. In April 1967, at the age of eighteen, Kaysen was admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt. She had taken fifty aspirin tablets in a state of despair due to her failure to measure up to societal expectations.
Kaysen's initial psychiatric evaluation was brief, lasting only twenty minutes. She voluntarily admitted herself after consulting with a psychiatrist who was an acquaintance of her family. She was told she would be staying for a few weeks, but her stay extended to eighteen months. During her time at McLean, she was treated with antipsychotic medication, chlorpromazine, and received psychotherapy.
Kaysen's memoir explores themes of mental illness, societal expectations, and the artistic connections often associated with madness. She intertwines her personal reflections with excerpts from her medical records, creating a contrast between the clinical language of her diagnosis and her expressive storytelling. She also introduces the reader to some of the staff members, including Valerie, Dr. Wick, and Mrs. McWilley.
Kaysen's experiences at McLean were shaped by her interactions with fellow patients, including Polly, Cynthia, Lisa Rowe, Lisa Cody, Georgina, and Daisy. Each of these women contributed to Susanna's understanding of her own circumstances and provided a sense of camaraderie in dealing with their shared situation. For example, Susanna was particularly drawn to Lisa Rowe, a rebellious sociopath who encouraged her to stop taking her medication and resist therapy.
Girl, Interrupted provides a raw and honest account of Kaysen's journey through the world of psychiatric medicine in the 1960s. It raises questions about the nature of individuality and the impact of societal norms on mental health. The memoir has been praised for its ability to make Susanna's personal story emblematic of the struggles faced by young people, especially young women, navigating the expectations and chaos of their time.
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The film's portrayal of institutional control
Girl, Interrupted is a 1999 biographical drama film directed by James Mangold, starring Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, and Brittany Murphy. The film is based on the 1993 memoir of the same name by Susanna Kaysen, which details her experiences as a young woman in an American psychiatric hospital in the 1960s after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The film was primarily shot in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with additional scenes filmed at Harrisburg State Hospital, chosen for its old-fashioned appearance to give the film a time-dated look.
The film portrays the theme of institutional control and the power dynamics between staff and patients. It depicts the characters' resistance to institutional control, with patients hiding medication under their tongues, breaking into administrative offices, and finding ways to circumvent institutional routines. The hospital setting serves as both a refuge and a prison for the characters, isolating them from the outside world and the demands and expectations that had driven them to seek treatment.
The film also explores the intersection of psychiatry and romantic love, with male psychiatrists and doctors looming over the female characters, imposing their authority and diagnoses. Susanna questions the genuine intentions of the doctors and the effectiveness of their treatments, given the lack of progress among her peers. The film portrays the characters' interpersonal relationships and their struggles with mental illness, providing a glimpse into the experiences of women in psychiatric institutions and their resistance to institutional constraints.
The portrayal of institutional control in Girl, Interrupted has been compared to that of Milos Forman's film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which also brought to life the dramatic environment of institutional control and violence within the context of a psychiatric hospital. While Girl, Interrupted has been criticised for its thin and predictable plotting, the performances of Ryder and Jolie have been praised for their intensity and honesty, with Jolie winning several awards for her role.
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The relationship between staff and patients
Girl, Interrupted is a memoir by Susanna Kaysen, published in 1993, which details her experiences as a patient at McLean Hospital in Boston in the 1960s. The book was adapted into a film in 1999, directed by James Mangold and starring Winona Ryder as Susanna. The film was shot in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg State Hospital, and the hospital's name was changed from McLean to Claymoore.
The film also explores the theme of resistance to authority, with Lisa Rowe, a fellow patient, encouraging Susanna to stop taking her medication and resist therapy. Susanna and Lisa drug the night watch nurse with a sedative and sneak around at night in the hospital's underground tunnels.
The book and film also highlight the intersection of psychiatry and romantic love. Susanna has a casual relationship with Toby, a young man who has been drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. She also has a sexual relationship with her male English teacher at school, and later with John, one of the hospital orderlies.
The hospital staff are portrayed as having authority over the patients, with Susanna describing one doctor as "triumphant" and another as "cradling his pencil like a slim, silver bullet". The staff's attempts to treat their patients are sometimes questioned by the patients themselves, who find ways to subvert the system. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing that it failed to capture the power of its source material and the book's raw and honest recognition of the way women have experienced relationships with men as inherently oppressive.
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The book's raw recognition of women's experiences
Girl, Interrupted is a memoir by American author Susanna Kaysen, detailing her experiences as a young woman in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. The book offers a raw and honest recognition of women's experiences, specifically in the context of mental health and institutionalisation.
Kaysen's memoir sheds light on the way women have often experienced relationships with men as inherently oppressive. The book intersects the structures of psychiatry and romantic love, with male psychiatrists imposing their authority to diagnose. Kaysen's description of her doctor, "He looked triumphant", reflects this dynamic. The book also explores the theme of resistance to institutional control, with patients finding ways to navigate the routines and constraints of institutional life.
The success of the memoir can be attributed to its ability to resonate deeply with readers, particularly young women. Kaysen recalled that many readers approached her, sharing their own experiences of self-harm and expressing a strong sense of identification with the narrator. The book's publication in 1993 coincided with a larger debate around mental health in America, contributing to its prominence and impact.
Girl, Interrupted provides insight into how women's mental health was perceived in the past. It raises important questions about the separation between "normal" and "crazy", inviting readers to reflect on their own position on this spectrum. The book also acknowledges the struggles of poor mental health during adolescence and how it can interrupt healthy development, impacting personal evolution.
The film adaptation of Girl, Interrupted, released in 1999, starred Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, and Brittany Murphy. While the film received mixed reviews, the performances of Ryder and Jolie were praised for their strong connection to their characters. The film further contributed to the visibility of mental illness and the depiction of interpersonal relationships within the hospital setting.
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The film's mixed critical reception
Girl, Interrupted is a 1999 biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and written by Mangold, Lisa Loomer, and Anna Hamilton Phelan. It is based on the 1993 memoir of the same name by Susanna Kaysen, which details her experiences as a young woman in an American psychiatric hospital in the 1960s after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances of its lead actresses, while others found it to be thinly plotted and predictable.
The film's portrayal of institutional control and power dynamics between staff and patients has been noted by critics. In the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan wrote that the film had "a hard time resisting manufacturing obvious, standard-issue drama," comparing it to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Paul Tatara of CNN criticised the film's screenplay, arguing that it lacked self-reflection in the dialogue. Tom Coates of the BBC described the film as "a decent adaptation" of Kaysen's memoir, acknowledging that it had been "neatened up and polished" for a mainstream audience.
Despite the mixed reviews, the performances of the lead actresses, including Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, and Brittany Murphy, were generally well-received. Jolie, in particular, garnered several accolades for her role, including the Academy Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress. As of 2022, the film holds a rating of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.70/10.
The film's depiction of mental illness and institutionalisation has been a subject of discussion. Some have argued that it offers a glimpse into the personal experiences of those struggling with their mental health and the constraints imposed by institutionalisation. The film also explores the intersection of psychiatry and romantic love, with male authority figures imposing their diagnoses on female patients.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1999 film Girl, Interrupted is based on Susanna Kaysen's real-life experiences at McLean Hospital in Boston, which she documented in her 1993 memoir of the same name.
Susanna Kaysen spent almost two years at McLean Hospital after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. She was admitted in 1967, aged 18, after taking 50 aspirin in a suicide attempt. During her stay, she was treated with antipsychotic medication and psychotherapy.
The film is based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir. However, director James Mangold added events and relationships that were not in the book to flesh out the story.
Filming took place primarily in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, as well as in Harrisburg State Hospital. Mechanicsburg was chosen for its old-fashioned appearance, which gave the film its time-dated look.
Yes, before publishing her memoir Girl, Interrupted, Kaysen had published two well-regarded novels.
