Hysteria (2012)

The Worst Film Ever

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

It's 1880 London. Stress out women of all kinds are diagnosed with hysteria. The remedy is pelvic massage and the release of orgasm. Medicine still uses leeches and germs are a new concept. Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) is fired from the hospital for changing with clean bandages. After many rejections, he gets a job with Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce) who treats only women. Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is his rebellious suffragette daughter and Emily (Felicity Jones) is the obedient one who studies phrenology. The constant 'treatments' are wearing out Mortimer's hand. His gentleman inventor flatmate Edmund St. John-Smythe (Rupert Everett) helps develop a vibrator for the work.The subject matter is titillating amusement. Everybody plays it straight with a smile. It's light fun with a bit of serious issue. It's not big laughs but it's an enjoyable little rom-com. They all play the roles great especially Gyllenhaal's firecracker act.

"Hysteria" is a movie based on the true story of the invention of the first vibrator and shows us how that happened and the beliefs about hysteria in 1880's. It's a really delightful movie which combines very well the history (of the invention of the first vibrator) and comedy with romance.I liked very much the interpretation of Hugh Dancy who plays as Mortimer Granville and his friend in the movie Rupert Everett who plays as Edmund St. John-Smythe. I also liked the interpretation of Maggie Gyllenhaal who plays as Charlotte Dalrymple and I believe that this interpretation of her is one of her best.I strongly recommend this movie and I believe that everyone who watch it he will laugh very much with it.

an admirable work. and this is not a surprise. first - for the cast. second - the script, subtle, seductive, mixture of accuracy and precise lines of joy. an old fashion style romantic comedy. same rules, same science of detail. and history of a classic pleasure instrument. the Victorian atmosphere is perfect spice in this case. and good plate for rehabilitation of masterclass humor. I admit , I am subjective. Hugh Dancy and Rupert Everett are two of my favorite actors. and Maggie Gyllenhaal seems be, in this film, a version of Katherine Hepburn. but, more that, it is just an adorable, lovely, seductive comedy. and it is enough !

In short, a wonderful, entertaining romp of a period romcom, set at a crucial time in the evolution of modern medicine, the genesis of the telephone and the increase in electrical appliances in general. Interesting, well scripted and portrayed with a great ensemble cast including the fabulous Rupert Everett and Jonanthan Pryce and the luminous and hugely talented Maggie Gyllenhaal. Some familiar faces from British stage and screen; Ashley Jensen, the underused Sheridan Smith and the wonderful Gemma Jones (love her in Much Ado About Nothing) all come together to make something really special. Hugh Dancy is great as the determined and ethical lead, Dr Mortime Granville, shocked at the behind the times medical practices going on in all the big Hospitals who haven't yet heard of handwashing, germs or sterile-dressings and he tries to find a place where his medicine will be worthwhile. At this time 'hysteria' was the main diagnosis for women attending a physician and it is these misdiagnosed women he gains employment treating with a - RSI inducing - 'hands on approach.' There is more to this film than orgasms (*ahem* paroxysms) for rich ladies, and the invention of the vibrator, there is also a social commentary of the time, examples of historical shortsightedness of male-dominated medicine in the late 1800s and the treatment of women in general. Not just a funny film (and it is genuinely funny) but also with something to say, not vacuous or pointless, it really is intelligent humour and the kind of film I'm sure you would gain more from on a second (or third) viewing and it wouldn't be less entertaining on repetition. One of the most feel-good genuinely enjoyable comedies I've seen in a while.