Parent reviews for Girl, Interrupted

I'm 18 and a senior in highschool and this movie seared my heart. It's such a real, honest depiction of what mental illness can look like. It doesn't romanticize any of it and I think it's great. With a heavy topic you can expect there to be some graphic images/comments throughout the movie but I think its important to show the truth about these types of things so people and teens can learn how serious these topics are. It can be helpful to learn different mental disorders, and how deep mental illness can be. While it may seem like a negative message it's actually quite positive if you watch to the end and there's a lot to learn from the main character, Susanna.

I show this for a high school class I teach called Psychology in Film. This film is great for help in studying topics such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. However, I would personally not recommend this film for early teenagers. There is a lot of overbearing language and a disturbing and graphic suicide scene. There is also a lack of positive role models for children to learn from. The movie is really good however, and I would recommend it.

I think that this move is very powerful, but very real. I think that it is just important to show a teenager about the sad and bad things in the world as it is to show them about the happy and good things in the world.

Girl, Interrupted is the kind of movie that pulls you in and makes you feel for the characters you're watching. It'll have you thinking about it days after. I first watched it around the time when it was first released in '99...I was a tween myself and loved the film but didn't really "get it" like most younger viewers wont. The true meaning of the story is serious and real. This film is truly exceptional played by an amazing cast. Angelina Jolie makes an incredible performance. Winona Ryder steals your heart with her amazing charm and spirit. Angela Bettis can't get no better than this. Whoopie Goldberg is heartwarming and inspirational, and the deceased Brittany Murphy's best role ever! It's set in the 60's where Suzanna Kaysen (Winona) is sent to a hospital for a "rest" where she meets all sorts of people with different problems and makes some special friends along the way. A real look at mental hospitals and the lives of those who are sent there. You will laugh and cry throughout (mostly cry). Lots of very strong language including sexual. Violence of all sorts, lots of prescription drug use and some marijuana use. Several sexual situations (couple laying in bed naked but covered, implied oral sex or "going down on a guy" off screen, discussions with a therapist, heavy kissing, an affair with a married man, and the peer pressure of sleeping with someone before marriage). There is also graphic verbal bullying which causes a suicide. This film isn't really recommended for teens - it's more of an adult film with adult situations. So I'm going to say 18+ Such a remarkable film you can't miss!!!