A Review by Phil Calabro
**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**
2001, Miramax, Dir. Erik Skjoldbjærg, Starring Christina Ricci, Anne Heche, Michelle Williams, Jason Biggs, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Jessica Lange, Nick Campbell
Over 300 million people in the entire world have depression, each of its own different nature and personality. It is grief-stricken, painful, and uncontrollable. In a nation controlled by self-help therapists and noted psychologists, it is truly impossible to fully pinpoint the effects of the mindset. And never before have I seen a movie that captivates the essense of the horrors that depression gives than this film. Prozac Nation, which has been the best-selling novel that is treasured by book clubs and especially with depression patients as well, was finally turned into film and went on to win several awards at international festivals. The film, which has yet to be released by Miramax (considering Harvey Weinstein cares more about Michael Moore than good film), is one of the most amazing and captivating films I have seen in years, uttering a fresh breath of truth to the illness.
Elizabeth Wurtzel (Ricci) is not a fictional being, but actually the author of the book. Liz has been a middleman in the fights between her divorced parents, she can't trust anyone, and she has a hard time fitting in at Harvard without involving herself in the dangers of alcohol and drugs. In college, she must deal with a heaping of problems. First off, she must control an incredible relationship that is on the brink because of her compulsive habits and outlandish attitudes of everyone around her. Secondly, she must deal with the ravings of her mother, who has a case of depression even more serious than Liz's. And thirdly, she must take hold of her life as whole, which is whirlwinding because of addictions of certain drugs.
Ricci plays the perfect pretentiously depressed individual, complete with suicidal poems that we've all heard before but still shudder at the darkness of it. Her narration is not uplifting, and it is meant to be just like that - it is the voice of the true Wurtzel wanting to describe her pain. She is in contrast with herself - her beautiful looks provide an interesting backdrop to her mental problems. Ricci, who has suffered from severe depression herself, puts a lot of effort into really emphasizing the swings of the depression and its side effects. The result is a realistic and monumental achievement on her part. Michelle Williams and Jason Biggs play two friends of Liz, and who we watch give up on her after her attitude towards them twist into the wrong zone, and she eventually loses all contact with them, as well as their love and guidance. Also noticable is Jessica Lange as the depressed mother of Liz, who drives herself into the same puddle as her daughter.
The direction is not as remarkable as the acting, but is still worthy enough in its constant camerawork that represents the general surroundings of Liz, that it suffices for the entire film and does not denote in negativities. The director rather plays off the narrative in its classic form, but still allows the actors and actresses to free themselves of their roles. The special effects involving double negatives and ghostly images work well to describe the intensity that Liz eventually gives into during her depression strikes. More attributed to the horror-flick flashback effects, Skjoldbjærg showcases several of his cinematography talents that he showed in his hit 'Insomnia'.
Prozac Nation is one of the most emotionally exasperating and well-made films made in the last five years. It is a total shame to see such an amazing film left to rot on the cutting floor, when so many depression patients have been waiting to see the truest form of the illness expressed on the silver screen. I hope that when this DVD is released, it will be recognized as one of the most realistic films of the modern age.
