SYNOPSIS
In 1967, Susanna Kaysen had a headache and chased a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. This landed her in the mental institution, Claymoore. Here she is diagnosed, by Dr. Melvin Potts, with borderline personality disorder. When she arrives at Claymoore, she is greeted by Nurse Valerie Owens and shown round the woman's ward. Here she meets Georgina Tuskin, a pathological liar who is fixated with The Wizard of Oz; Polly Clark, a childlike schizophrenic; Janet Webber, a sardonic anorexic patient; Daisy Randone, a girl who won't let anyone in her room, and only eats her father's chicken; and Lisa Rowe, a sociopath who controls the other patients, and makes lives hard for the nurses at Claymoore. Through the movie, Lisa gains and loses control over Susanna and we see how bad she really can be. The movie's ending shows Susanna being released from Claymoore after an 18-month stay. How does Susanna take back her control? This movie battles subjects such as mental heath, abuse, self-harm and suicide.
- Winona RyderSusanna
- Angelina JolieLisa
- Clea DuVallGeorgina
- Brittany MurphyDaisy
- Elisabeth MossPolly
- Jared LetoTobias Jacobs
- Jeffrey TamborDr. Potts
- Vanessa RedgraveDr. Wick
- Whoopi GoldbergValerie
- Angela BettisJanet
- Jillian ArmenanteCynthia
- Drucie McDanielM-G
- Alison ClaireGretta
- Christina MyersMargie
- Joanna KernsAnnette
- Travis FineJohn
- Gloria BarnhartOlder Catatonic
- Josie GammellMrs. McWilley
- Bruce AltmanProf. Gilcrest
- Mary Kay PlaceMrs. Gilcrest
- Ray BakerMr. Kaysen
- KaDee StricklandBonnie Gilcrest
- Christian MonroeRonny
- Kurtwood SmithDr. Crumble
- David Scott TaylorCabby Monty Hoover