I’d just finished sorting out my schedule for the next eight days at the Toronto International Film Festival when a new title came to my attention, Hysteria. The film, without beating around the bush (oh man, that’s bad), centers on the invention of the vibrator.
Directed by Tanya Wexler (Finding North) this romantic comedy is set in Victorian London and based on the true story of how Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) came up with the world’s first electro-mechanical vibrator in the name of medical science. Along with Dancy the film co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett and Felicity Jones.
Since we’re on the topic, checking out Wikipedia here’s a little fact I bet you didn’t know. The vibrator was the fifth domestic appliance to be electrified, after the sewing machine, fan, tea kettle and toaster, and about a decade before the vacuum cleaner and electric iron. I don’t know about you, but that is actually quite fascinating as is the entire Wikipedia entry for that matter.
As of now, I have to decide whether I want to see this movie or see Lynn Shelton’s Your Sister’s Sister. This one would certainly brighten the spirits a bit more, but I’d be curious to read what you think. Unfortunately I don’t have a trailer for Your Sister’s Sister, but you can learn more about it right here.
