Girl Interrupted Movie Analysis

Lighting

What I first noticed when watching 'Girl Interrupted' was how dark and bleak the lighting was indoors, compared to the bright outdoors. I felt this represented Susanna's mind; dark and trapped on the inside, yet trying to break out and find light in odd situations. The darker the lighting, the darker the context. 

For example:

Mise-en-scene

This is the original cover art for 'Girl Interrupted. There is one character, presumably Susanna. She is split into two, one blue and one white, connoting that she has a bright and dark side. However there is more of her is the blue, connoting that there is more negative in her life, even if we can see an equal amount of positives.

This shot could mean Susanna is being controlled and dragged into things she doesn't want to do. For example, Tobias trying to convince her to leave with him, or going to the mental institution itself.

The background is blurred, as if Tobias is aiming to pull her into the present or future. Or possibly making Toby more important the the hospital.

I love this shot because everyone in the foreground is dressed in white. Though in some cases white connoted purity, I found that this could represent those in mental hospitals being like lost forgotten ghosts who walk corridors aimlessly because they have nothing better to do, and occasionally causing trouble.

I think the director has used this colour scheme purposely, maybe for the reasons I proposed, or possibly because white is quite bland.

In one scene, after leaving the shrink, there a John F Kennedy poster outside the house. We know that this film is set in the 60's and JFK is still alive.

Characterisation

Angelina Jolie's character, Lisa, is the dominant one. By the gif above you can see how she has (almost a male) dominance by how she isn't sitting on the chair in a 'lady-like' fashion, she's wearing a tshirt and jogging bottoms, smoking and all round confident. Completely unlike the other patients. Because of her sense of humour and how out-going she is, the audience begin to like her. Also because she isn't as miserable as other characters; she makes things a bit more lively.

This entire movie is how Susanna comes to terms with being 'crazy'. Even though her life is constantly moving on eventfully, we are always reminded of her problems and her doubts. To most, she would be the the unrelatable character, yet we are still intrigued by her and her behaviour.

Susanna's disgusted by her needing to take drugs to help her head, but as you can see the supporting characters behind her, it is just routine for them.

Sound and Language

During the beginning scenes of the movie, Susanna is found in a dream-like state.

There a jump cuts to show different periods of her life leading up to when she goes the the shrink. On her birthday we can here diegetic birthday songs 'For She's a Jolly Good Fellow', which is happy which is a contrast against non diegetic confusing music, to show her stress.

When being in hospital due to an overdose, we can hear doctors and nurses talking and machines. As an audience we may not be able to understand the doctoral jargon, but we are used it on medical shows, so without the visual footage we can assume she was in a hospital.

The patients are spoken to like children, like they don't understand what's going on. Some of the patients do talk like children because of their conditions.

Lines like the above are what really grasps the audience's attention. Susanna's environment and condition power the emotion too. No one says things like this in real life, but quotes as meaningful as this dig deep.

So there is a sense of unreality, it is just a movie, right?

Camera Angles

Click on the image above for different camera angles in a scene.
Lisa sees Susanna for the first time and decides to confront her. Low angles show Susanna's fear and high angles show Lisa's dominance. When the nurse breaks through the door, there's an even higher angle on her to show she has the final say in this matter.

There are pretty simple angles for Toby, mid shots connoting that he is a simple kind of guy.

I want to use simple angles in my video as I think it will help the narrative remain clear.

Themes

The obvious theme would be mental health and hospitals. Everywhere you look there is always some form of relation back to a medical field.

I think the theme are very 'full on', I don't think, or from what I could see, any subliminal messages. Everything was how it was meant to be and displayed through editing, camera work, sound and mise en scene.

Genre

By my guess 'Girl Interrupted' in a Psychological Drama because it's main focus is on mental health and stability, yet there are parts that hit home and can be related to. It isn't frightening, or full of explosions but has the ability to be a though provoking. 

Representation 

This movie stands for the people who are mentally ill or unstable, and those who are affected by it. Social society and their conservative attitudes have been presented also for the period of time. 

The set design, costumes, and acting clearly presents and brings the drama to life. Nowadays, hospitals would be fully technologically equip, and hopefully  more knowledgeable staff. The audience can see back from the 60's to now and how we have progressed. 

Audience

The audience is anyone who understands or wants to understand. Maybe those who are interested in psychology or history.

Only after watching the move do recognize who it is aimed at. Those who don't understand, won't enjoy it.

An audience member will engage and listen to what has to be said by the writers and actors.
I know who my the audience for my video is so I want to make it special, relatable and personal for them.

Analysing this movie, I've thought more in depth in the technical aspects of making my video. I have a rough idea of the codes and conventions, camera angles, costumes and mise-en-scene. All of these things must reflect the characters.

Narrative

'Girl Interrupted' follows the story of Susanna, who has been admitted to a mental hospital and how she deals with everyday life, people and her mind.

The story isn't delivered in constant chronological order, there are cutaways and flashbacks to support the narrative. This makes it seem as we are the protagonists mind, we see her thoughts and by this we believe and like her more.