Prozac Nation

Prozac Nation (sub-titled Young and Depressed in America : A Memoir) is an autobiography published in 1994 and written by Elizabeth Wurtzel. It describes the author's experiences with clinical depression.

Film

The book was turned into a motion picture directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg and starring Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, and Anne Heche. It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2001;

Related Topics:
Motion picture - Erik Skjoldbjaerg - Christina Ricci - Jason Biggs - Anne Heche - Toronto International Film Festival - September 8 - 2001

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distribution rights were acquired by Miramax Films with the intent of giving the film a wider theatrical release.

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Before the film was released, controversy erupted over comments Wurtzel, who lived near the World Trade Center in New York, made in February 2002 about the September 11, 2001 attacks:

Related Topics:
World Trade Center in New York - September 11, 2001 attacks

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:I had not the slightest emotional reaction. I thought, this is a really strange art project ... It was a most amazing sight in terms of sheer elegance. It fell like water. It just slid, like a turtleneck going over someone's head.... I just felt like everyone was overreacting. People were going on about it. That part really annoyed me.

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Months of subsequent test screenings and re-edits never led to a broad commercial release. The film was released in Norway, Skjoldbjaerg's native country, in August 2003. The film never had a national release in the U.S. market. It premiered on the Starz! in March 2005, and was released on DVD that following summer.

Related Topics:
Norway - Starz!

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Frank Deasy, who co-wrote the screenplay, offered his opinion to The Guardian on Miramax's failure to release the film:

Related Topics:
Frank Deasy - Screenplay

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:It's a truthful depiction of depression. And I think the reason Miramax has struggled is the fact that it doesn't have a traditional dramatic structure, in terms of a clear, unqualified ending. Look at the book: Elizabeth is very clear that Prozac has helped her, but you're left with a dilemma, because perhaps she no longer knows who she is. We didn't want to come down heavily on one side or the other. People who've experienced depression like that aspect of the film, but a lot of people don't like it. Miramax certainly don't seem to like it.

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