Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted is an autobiographical book by Susanna Kaysen first published in 1994, that relates the author's experience of being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and admission to McLean Hospital.

It was adapted into a 1999 movie that both starred and was produced by Winona Ryder. The movie, which also starred Angelina Jolie, Brittany Murphy, Clea DuVall, Vanessa Redgrave and Whoopi Goldberg, takes viewers to 1967, when Susanna Kaysen is told by her psychiatrist that she needs to take a short rest in a psychiatric ward of McLean Hospital, though, the name was changed for the movie to "Claymoore".

Plot Summary

During her stay, Susanna (Ryder) meets Lisa (Jolie). Lisa proves to be a sexually driven and volatile character. Susanna and Lisa form a tight bond, but later Lisa begins to spin out of control and becomes a traitor to Susanna. Lisa ends up in a bed in restraints, repentant for what she did to Susanna. Susanna also befriends Daisy (Murphy), whose home problems lead to her suicide. Lisa, however, is not so sympathetic to Daisy's problems and never really shows a desire to be friends with her. This is a reflection of Lisa's sociopathy.

Quote

"What world is this; what kingdom? On what shores of what world?" --Dr. Sonia Wick (Vanessa Redgrave) to Susanna on ambivalence

See also

• Prozac Nation

External links and References

• Kaysen, S. (1994) Girl, Interrupted. Vintage Books. ISBN 0679746048
• Mangold, J, Loomer, S, Phelan, AH (2000) Girl, Interrupted : The Screenplay. Faber & Faber. ISBN 057120211X
• Review of film from BBC