Welcome to the Dollhouse

USA 1996, 85 minutes
Dir. Todd Solondz
Rating: [M]
Genres: Drama / Independent, Youth, Black Comedy

Aroview: Winner of the grand prize at Sundance '96, this is a blackly comic portrait of a dreaded kind of coming-of-age. Teenage persecution and bizarre initiation rites play out in a suburban kitsch nightmare for a bi-focaled 'ugly duckling' who has little prospect of turning into a swan. A cruelly funny film for the bullied outcast in us all.

NZ International Film Festival 1996
Sundance - Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic)

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-2 of 2 member reviews.

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3 stars (Good Enough) Offbeat story of a persecuted 11-year-old girl, Dawn, and a frightening depiction of junior high. A black comedy but could be accused of being overly preoccupied with trying to shock and disturb. ~GenXGirl
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5 stars (Exceptional) Remarkably compassionate, brilliantly executed, devastatingly funny and achingly familiar. How come no director since has fully utilised Matarazzo's impressive talent? ~HiFi