Sometimes we just need clarity of vision.

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2007)

Girl Interrupted takes us on a journey into the lives of approximately 6 young women who are coping with differing mental illnesses in a mental facility.
Their illnesses are magnified by the uncertain times of the 60's, which the film time-line is set in. The Vietnam war, the struggles of the gender wars of the times, along with so many other issues that the 60's brought about are focused upon as well. Susanna (Ryder) and Lisa (Jolie) our main characters, along with a small group of others make it easy for us to bond with, and have strong ideals of how we want their lives to turn out.
Jolie has once again proved she sets herself apart from other actresses, as she takes hold of this character and nails it. She is a delicious sociopath. She uses and owns the ward. Ryder also does a good job with her character.
I believe that Ryder was a very confused young woman, she took the 60's hard, her feelings ruled her. She had to find a purpose for her life in order to get past the block she was facing in her life. She is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Although the group of women bonded, and they could help each other out by listening, they could not heal each other. Ryder soon learned that in order to heal and get out of the hospital was to work on herself. She needed to turn all her feelings into something constructive. She needed to stop hiding from what she fears. After a traumatic experience, and seeing Jolie for what she really was inside, she began to work on her recovery. She saw that Jolie was not the answer to getting out of the hospital.
There are many great scenes in the movie, the movie did a good job of depicting a mental facility in the 60's. Well at least for those with money. The only real staff member that you meet and have feelings for one way or another is Goldberg (nurse Owens) who did a good job, I enjoyed the way she tried to help the young women in her own way.
All in all I would say this movie was great. There was not a moment when I didn't identify with at least one or more of the characters. The actors kept you enticed.
There were a lot of cut scenes, flashbacks, but I honestly didn't mind them, they were understandable and not confusing as so many films seem to be.
10/10