A Nutshell Review: Hysteria
9/10
Author: DICK STEEL from Singapore
1 August 2012

It's always amazing to learn how medical science has developed over the many decades with new discoveries, treatments and cures, and back in the late 19th Century, female hysteria was thought to be treatable in what is known as the pelvic massage. Which yes, in other words, masturbation, where in what this film had depicted, having a doctor perform the act on your behalf, with nothing sexual, but purely as a means of therapy which was hard on the fingers, and satisfaction measured by the achieving of an orgasm.

Written by Stephen and Jonah Lisa Dyer from an original story by Howard Gensler, Hysteria would like you to believe it's based on a true story, loosely of course, about how the vibrator actually came to fruition. In fact, it paints a more hilarious look at what came before that contraption actually became reality, and lo and behold, little do we know the humble beginnings of a technological marvel, like all things, stem from a problem with the manual method. Too much of a good thing, led to hand cramps in this case. What more when Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a handsome doctor with a penchant to help to sick, becomes a popular go-to healer to help hysterical women keep their condition under control. An ability he is sought for, until his hand becomes sore.

With the, erm, pleasures obtained outside of the home and as part of medical treatment, Mortimer's practice under the private clinic of Dr Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce) enabled both men to push forth the boundaries for treating hysteria. What more, Robert Dalrymple is also on the lookout for a possible successor to his esteemed, elite and lucrative clinic, and has daughter Emily (Felicity Jones) as carrot should he find an heir apparent to whom he can also give away Emily's hand in marriage to. And rounding up the Dalrymples is Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Emily's sister who's the exact opposite in character.

Hysteria packed a lot into its narrative, from issues like the class divide, as well as a romance that has Mortimer being drawn to the two sisters for different reasons - one to up his social standing and is a natural progression to further his career ambitions, while the outspokenness of the other, in being able to hold an intelligent conversation, balanced with a heart of gold in wanting to help the less fortunate, and is not afraid to stand firm on her convictions. What more, a proposition to allow Mortimer to put his skills into real, practical use, may be too good to be true, and you can see the appeal here, in breaking with conventional norms and stepping out to do what you truly believe in.

So outside of what makes this film sexy, and comedic at the same time, is a strong underlying theme about the social condition of the era, with woman's rights being non existent, and on the cusp of a revolution with forward thinkers gaining their ground a step at a time, probably in some ways mirroring the liberation in sexuality as well, with the advent of a device that can be procured and used in private, compared to having visit the doctor's, which I have to admit provided plenty of laughs even though they are fairly tame in treatment.

The story may play out in expectant terms, but the ensemble cast is the appeal as well. Hugh Darcy may not be a big name in this part of the world, but surely his turn as the doctor here will win him some admirers. Maggie Gyllenhaal didn't have a role that can accentuate her already sterling filmography, but with her character becomes the live- wire of the movie, catalyzing plenty of ideas that we already are familiar with, but are quite abhorred in that era. Jonathan Pryce plays the overbearing patriarch with aplomb, while Rupert Everett has a small role as the eccentric tycoon Edmund St. John-Smuthe who has engineering responsibilities and credited with the creation of a device that had a different use, only for Mortimer Granville to chance upon an opportunity when used in a separate way.

Labelled as one of the best selling adult toys, the vibrator has come a long way from the images and stills of those designed in the early stage, so stay tuned during the end credits for that educational session of how designs evolved from humble beginnings, together with some of the kinkiest descriptions to market the product. Definitely highly recommended, and may just creep into my shortlist as one of the best this year!

Best treatment of small piece of history EVER!
10/10
Author: csymin from texas
5 November 2012

I so thoroughly enjoyed this movie that I'm telling everyone I know about it. Sad that it got so little attention when it actually came out because it is the most delightful little story of a small piece of history to ever grace the movie screen. I personally had no idea that women ever went to doctors to get a little sexual satisfaction right there in the office.

The actors were all superb without exception, the costume (wow!) and set design were incredible (Rupert Everett's little office was amazing!), but the screenplay should have gotten an Oscar nod. Brilliant! I only wish (for the producers' sake) that perhaps the title were more descriptive. Based on the word "hysteria" alone, some people might shy away thinking it more of a thriller, when in fact, it's an absolutely delightful and humorous look at one small but lasting invention and the story behind it.

HYSTERIA is hysterical
10/10
Author: ian-janer from New York, NY
16 May 2012

I loved Hysteria. It is entertaining, fun, witty, and light, and it has some great performances by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy. The movie treats female sexuality in a way that is real and matter-of-fact, and I think it is really important to see that point of view in cinema (too often female sexuality in film only serves to excite male fantasies). The movie is a great, entertaining,weekend-with-friends film,and despite its feminist streak,it is just as enjoyable for men as it is for women.I laughed out loud countless times, and highly recommend Hysteria to anyone seeking a light, fun, but still meaningful romp.

Feel Warm All Over
10/10
Author: Chi Li Wong from United States
13 May 2012

Mostly charming and just a bit naughty this film is a little gem of a romantic comedy. Maggie G. and Hugh D. are delightfully at odds while touching on issues of women's rights, class and medical practices of the day. There are some truly laugh out loud moments. Don't miss this one. I promise you, like the women in the film, you're going to feel much better afterwards!

From Indie Wire:

Director Tanya Wexler and writers Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer take full advantage, giving us a truly hilarious look at the oppressive scientific ideas that used to surround female sexuality.

The based-on-true-events story is that of Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), who is having trouble finding work in the squalor of London's old-fashioned hospitals (which are portrayed with the dark sensibility of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"). He finally ends up working for Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), an expert in female hysteria.

The basis of the practice, built around this now defunct sexually-associated diagnosis, is *ahem* manual stimulation. Initially Dr. Granville gets along just fine, developing well-intentioned feelings for his superior's morally fibrous phrenologist daughter Emily (Felicity Jones). Yet her sister, the passionate suffragette and social activist Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), throws everything ff-kilter.

Baffled by mediocre reviews
10/10
Author: Mark T from United States
30 May 2012

I can't fathom why this film isn't rated higher. Well OK, I can -- it's probably several factors, none of which act to reduce my 10 rating. Maybe some uptight viewers are uncomfortable with a film about female sexuality, or a film that appears to trivialize it or that acknowledges & dissects extensive bygone quackery that involved it. Maybe British accents exhaust and frustrate a USA-skewed voter population. Or maybe Rupert isn't quite as gorgeous at 53 as he was at 30. Duh.

This film was a joy to watch, extremely funny in many places and precisely acted throughout, with no cheap cartoonish exaggeration (even where the script could have begged for it). A few bits were ever so slightly uneven or formulaic, but really, what isn't anymore? This was well worth the ticket price, and the smiles of so many around us as we left confirmed that others felt the same.