Lost and Delirious (2001)

50% of critics liked it
(58 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(15,626 ratings)

Three schoolgirls learn about the joys, sorrows, and varieties of love in this drama based on the novel The Wives of Bath by Susan Swan. Mary (Mischa Barton) is a quiet girl who is still recovering from the death of her mother. Mary's father and new stepmother, who are blind to her emotional needs,… More Three schoolgirls learn about the joys, sorrows, and varieties of love in this drama based on the novel The Wives of Bath by Susan Swan. Mary (Mischa Barton) is a quiet girl who is still recovering from the death of her mother. Mary's father and new stepmother, who are blind to her emotional needs, send her away to an all-girls college, where Mary becomes fast friends with her new roommates, sophisticated Paulie (Piper Perabo) and worldly Tory (Jessica Pare). But Mary soon discovers that Paulie and Tory are more than just friends, and have begun to pursue a passionate physical relationship. While initially puzzled by their lesbian leanings, Mary remains close friends with both of them; Tory's sister is not so open minded, however, and threatens to tell their parents about Tory's affair. Afraid and confused, Tory quickly breaks off her romance with Paulie and takes up with Jake (Luke Kirby), a student at a nearby boys' school. Paulie is heartbroken, and desperately struggles to win Tory back by writing her epic-length poems on the subject of love and loss. Paulie also finds a metaphor for her wounded heart as she finds an injured bird in the woods and struggles to restore it to health; in addition, she discovers an understanding soul in the person of Fay Vaughn (Jackie Burroughs), one of her teachers. Lost and Delirious was the first English-language feature for Québecois filmmaker Lea Pool; the film received its world premiere at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Léa Pool
Written By: Judith Thompson
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Jul 20, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Dec 11, 2001
Studio: Lions Gate Releasing

Critic Reviews

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
Their characters may feel lost, but Ms. Perabo and Ms. Paré rank among the finds of the year.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
This movie goes so far in the opposite direction of most films about teenagers that it might anger some viewers with its no-holds-barred honesty.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Barely skirting the lip of the ridiculous.
Kevin Courrier, Globe and Mail
Pool and Thompson have turned a tough-minded, solid narrative into a campy piece of kitsch that panders to teenage angst.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Evokes the intimacies of teenage girls with unusual delicacy, and Perabo's performance is a geyser of emotion.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Equally earnest and unconvincing.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
During the long sit, we get symbolism lobbed into our laps like a large you-go-girlfriend beach ball.
Luis Martinez, Cinenganos
Pool convierte el inerte celuloide en un pedazo vivo de realidad humana. Una película que navega de lo frágil a lo tosco y de vuelta.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A teen-lesbian Phenomenon without the maggots and psychotic chimp.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Way too little, too late.
Ted Murphy, Baseline.Hollywood.com
Rarely has a filmmaker captured the essence of those moments between adolescence and adulthood with the skill and sensitivity Pool does.
Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Shakespearean drama as penned by a love-struck pubescent girl.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Well-intentioned but curiously out-of-date...far too earnest for its own good.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Perabo is a revelation, wild and fiery.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Less than an overwhelming success, but it's still touching and troubling, and amounts to much more than the average portrayal of teen angst.
Cynthia Fuchs, Nitrate Online
Overly concerned with not offending its audience.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
It takes place at a girls' school whose students are discovering love for the first time, so the unguarded, adolescent ripeness of their emotions feels right to me.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nani V

I saw this on television years ago and have seen it a couple more times after that. It has some how stayed with me as I thought it wasn't your typical teen movie, it was much more dark and dramatic. The acting by the young girls were pretty good. There's also girl on girl… More
I saw this on television years ago and have seen it a couple more times after that. It has some how stayed with me as I thought it wasn't your typical teen movie, it was much more dark and dramatic. The acting by the young girls were pretty good. There's also girl on girl action in here if you're into that.
Curtis L

Blows with a capital B
Red L

Teen love is so difficult when the love affair ends. And then there are all the images - this film reminds me of the plays we had to dissect in school - What is the significants of the raptor, of the Lady MacBeth quotes, etc. What is the role of the third person (Marissa from the… More
Teen love is so difficult when the love affair ends. And then there are all the images - this film reminds me of the plays we had to dissect in school - What is the significants of the raptor, of the Lady MacBeth quotes, etc. What is the role of the third person (Marissa from the OC) in the friendship? As an aside, I like it when I notice it is a Canadian film too
Dean L

Two souls united. Two hearts entwined. A casual observer taken into the fold...becomes a friend...becomes a confidante. Together we make each other stronger or...we have the capacity to tear each other down. Two in love and a third to see, but what is left in the end when one succumbs… More
Two souls united. Two hearts entwined. A casual observer taken into the fold...becomes a friend...becomes a confidante. Together we make each other stronger or...we have the capacity to tear each other down. Two in love and a third to see, but what is left in the end when one succumbs to the will of a close-minded family and culture...is there room for love when convention rules the day? Can you break down those walls built over time by family and see what your heart truly wants you to see? Will you plant the seed or be planted yourself? Move with this movie and be moved. It is a masterpiece.
Sean S

OK sure this can be slotted in to the Sex and Snowshoes camp of Canadian film-making but it is a pretty decent effort all around and there is some excellent acting. Like all Canadian films it runs to the tragic and the melodrama so make sure to bring some happy pills. You will also… More
OK sure this can be slotted in to the Sex and Snowshoes camp of Canadian film-making but it is a pretty decent effort all around and there is some excellent acting. Like all Canadian films it runs to the tragic and the melodrama so make sure to bring some happy pills. You will also recognize several faces here before their careers hit.
Janice :

Lost and Delirious is a savoury homage to homosexuality with Piper Perabo leading the way as Paulie, the teenager rejecting her gender mostly because of female subordination, but also for the woman she loves. I've read the original novel titled "The Wives of Bath"… More
Lost and Delirious is a savoury homage to homosexuality with Piper Perabo leading the way as Paulie, the teenager rejecting her gender mostly because of female subordination, but also for the woman she loves. I've read the original novel titled "The Wives of Bath" and I must say it is NOTHING like it. The story, the characters, the ending... everything has basically been changed so that was a major bummer! But if you can forget about the novel, you'll see that this is actually a very good take on teenage homosexuality occuring at boarding schools (more like residential school I guess), among women. I enjoyed the love story, because it was very much different than what we are usually exposed to (The notebook, The lake house and all those romance films) and even though I couldn't relate to any of the characters, I was happy these actresses were brave enough to actually show us what it's like to be a girl in love with another girl and let go of their inhibitions. Brilliant! I loved it!
Ina S

Unfortunately the drama is a little over-the-top especially towards the end, otherwise a good film. I had some bad boarding-school-flashbacks, actually... ;-)