In case you're wondering why you should be excited about 'Hysteria', how about this- the British comedy/ drama explores the origins of the electromagnetic vibrator. Got your attention yet? Well here's the fact- the vibrator was invented by a certain Dr. Mortimer Granville in the 1880s as a cure for women diagnosed with hysteria, a catch-all term then used to describe females who suffered from bouts of anxiety, depression and frustration due to sexual discontent.
Of course you're probably wondering - now that I already know how the vibrator came to be, what more can I learn from sitting through an hour and a half of 'Hysteria'? For a start, Tanya Wexler hasn't approached the material with the clinical seriousness you would expect- as compared to say David Cronenberg's talky 'A Dangerous Method'. Instead, her no doubt heavily fictionalised retelling is told with zest, verve and wit- and while it does remain true to the broad facts of the story, it is also not afraid to take liberties to offer crowd-pleasing feel-good entertainment.
Blessed with an amusing script from husband-and-wife team Stephen and Jonah Lisa Dyer, Wexler thankfully never lets the subject descend into farce even while maintaining a winking tone throughout. Certainly, she's not afraid to portray the obstinacy of the medical community, which in the film's opening scene, is shown defending antiquated practices of blood-letting and dismissing Lister's germ theory or even the basic need for antiseptic conditions to prevent infection. Unlike most of his fraternity, Granville (Hugh Dancy) is forward-looking and not afraid to speak his mind- leading to his expulsion from a local hospital.
He finds employment under the roof of Dr Robert Dalrymple (Johnathan Pryce), a specialist in the area of 'hysteria' through his method of pelvic massages. Basically, that consists of physically hand-massaging his patients' private parts while they lie flat with their legs propped open under a puppet-theatre curtain (and no, to our male readers who were piqued and female readers who were disturbed by that description, there is no nudity on display). Though never explicitly mentioned, as you may have come to expect, Dalrymple's practice is so successful because it leaves the women in ecstasy- or in orgasm if you like.
Who wouldn't want a job like Granville's? Not exactly- as his list of patients grow, and he struggles to cope with their sheer numbers, he begins to develop hand cramps, so much so that he has to ice his hand after every massage. Eventually it takes its toll on his career, which is where, together with his wealthy pal Edmund (Rupert Everett), he gets the idea of modifying the electric feather duster to administer the same pleasure to his patients without the physical exertion.
Beyond the invention alone, Wexler also touches on the social context in Victorian England, addressing the root cause of their 'hysteria'. It isn't as simple as good sex, but rather equal rights- and so aside from his practice, Granville is also confronted by the feisty feminist Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who also happens to be Robert's older daughter. While Granville may have been taken by Charlotte's younger and quiet sister Emily (Felicity Jones), he soon finds himself unable to resist the independent-minded Charlotte. The two aren't that different- both are bold enough to confront the mores of their times, whether is it in the medical profession for the former or society for the latter.
Dancy and Gyllenhaal make for a delightful couple, their back-and-forth banter characteristic of the most enjoyable rom-coms. Just as captivating is Everett- though in far less scenes than any of the other characters, his offbeat character steals the limelight from Dancy whenever the two appear together. But Dancy holds his own in several others as well, portraying Granville as both earnest and perceptive. And truly as it is with Dancy so can it too be said of the rest of the cast, that their performances match the pitch of the material perfectly.
So there is much more to enjoy in 'Hysteria', even if you do already know how that object of sexual pleasure came to be. This is fine British comedy, wrapped in nice period detail and filled with plenty of light charming moments. It is engaging and humorous throughout, and even if it doesn't leave you in rapture, its infectious vibes will still offer good pleasure.
