Watch Hysteria

Hysteria is a romantic comedy-drama movie from 2011 that portrays the invention of the vibrator. The movie is set in the late 19th century, a period in history when women were believed to have mental disorders due to their inability to reach orgasm. The movie, directed by Tanya Wexler, features a star-studded cast, including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, and Jonathan Pryce.

The movie revolves around the story of Mortimer Granville, played by Hugh Dancy, a young and ambitious doctor who is struggling to find work in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. One day, he lands a job with Dr. Robert Dalrymple, a famous specialist in the treatment of hysteria, a common condition believed to afflict women who exhibit erratic behavior. Dr. Dalrymple believes that the cure for hysteria lies in massaging the vulva of the patient until she reaches orgasm. Mortimer is initially hesitant to take up the job as the treatment involves too much physical exertion, but his financial needs outweigh his moral misgivings.

Mortimer's life takes a positive turn when he meets Dr. Dalrymple's daughter, Emily, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, a feminist and social reformer who runs a charity to help the underprivileged. Mortimer falls in love with Emily, but their relationship is marred by their ideological differences. While Emily is at the forefront of the feminist movement, fighting for women's rights and challenging the status quo, Mortimer is content following the conventional norms of his time.

As Mortimer becomes increasingly successful in his line of work, he starts to develop a medical condition known as "hysterical paroxysm." Dr. Dalrymple, who is now too old to handle the workload, decides to assign Mortimer's job to his younger daughter Charlotte played by Felicity Jones. Mortimer is initially hesitant and struggles to adjust to working with Charlotte, but he soon discovers that she has a more efficient way of massaging the patients which involves an electric device.

Mortimer discovers that his new device works exceptionally well, and with his entrepreneurial spirit, he starts to produce and sell the device. He faces several obstacles along the way, including the judgement of his fellow doctors who consider him a fraud, but he perseveres and eventually wins the support of the medical community.

The movie portrays the struggles of women in the 19th century and highlights the gender inequalities prevalent in society. However, it is also a story of hope and perseverance, as Mortimer and his colleagues work towards improving the lives of women by creating a device that revolutionizes the treatment of hysteria.

The performances in the movie are stellar, with Hugh Dancy playing the role of Mortimer with a perfect balance of ambition and vulnerability. Maggie Gyllenhaal is brilliant as Emily, portraying her feminist ideology and her relationships with Mortimer with sensitivity and grace. Jonathan Pryce is excellent as Dr. Dalrymple, a stern and authoritative figure who finally softens towards Mortimer as he realizes the potential of his invention.

The movie is entertaining throughout, with a witty screenplay and engaging characters. The costume design and set decoration transport the audience to the Victorian era, with intricate details that capture the essence of the time. Overall, Hysteria is an excellent movie that tells a compelling story of social change and medical innovation.

Hysteria is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 53.