had trouble sleeping after I saw it (spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2003)

When I first saw this movie I was not touched but I was impressed at the great performances given by Ryder and Jolie. This is why I later decided to give it another look. After viewing it a second time I came to realize that this movie had to be made. It shines a great light on a subject which isn't discussed, mental illness. As Susanna is struggling with her view of the world she first must realize that her view may not be the correct one, this is the stranglehold that is Borderline Personality disorder.
It is interesting to note that her interaction with the other patients wasn't necessarily a positive one, I think she had even more trouble accepting her own problem while in the presence of other troubled people.
I feel that the turning point in the movie is when she refuses to leave the hospital and go to Canada with her "boyfriend", but for the first time in the movie seems to acknowledge the fact that she has a real life problem that must be dealt with and that running away from that problem will not solve it.
After the second viewing of the movie I found it difficult to sleep becuase of thoughts of how accurate the movie depicts life in a mental institution.
This is a movie that everyone should see, and I especially recommend it to anyone who is struggling with depression or some sort of mental illness.