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IMDb > Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Welcome to the Dollhouse
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Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) More at IMDbPro »

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Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) -- Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities.
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) -- Open-ended Trailer from Sony
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) -- Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities.

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   12,101 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 57% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Todd Solondz
Writer:
Todd Solondz (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Welcome to the Dollhouse on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 May 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
Not all girls want to play with dolls.
Plot:
Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
4 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
TV Renewal And Cancellation Notes To Date
 (From Screen Rant. 17 May 2009, 10:36 PM, PDT)

Might Fox Actually Renew Dollhouse? [Updated]
 (From Screen Rant. 15 May 2009, 6:48 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Cruelty more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Heather Matarazzo ... Dawn Wiener
Victoria Davis ... Lolita

Christina Brucato ... Cookie

Christina Vidal ... Cynthia
Siri Howard ... Chrissy
Brendan Sexton III ... Brandon McCarthy (as Brendan Sexton, Jr.)
Telly Pontidis ... Jed
Herbie Duarte ... Lance
Scott Coogan ... Troy
Daria Kalinina ... Missy Wiener
Matthew Faber ... Mark Wiener

Josiah Trager ... Kenny

Ken Leung ... Barry

Dimitri DeFresco ... Ralphy (as Dimitri Iervolino)
Rica Martens ... Mrs. Grissom
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Faggots and Retards (USA) (working title)
Middle Child
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Continuity: While in the gymnasium listening to a speech, there are three bullies sitting behind Dawn spitting spit balls at her. She is spit ball-free in one shot, but in the next shot, a close-up, she has several on her. more
Quotes:
Dawn Weiner: Drop dead lesbo. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Welcome to the Dollhouse (#6.6)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Sweet Candy more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
46 out of 49 people found the following comment useful:-
Cruelty, 3 May 2005
10/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

"Welcome to the Dollhouse" was the introduction of an important voice in the American cinema. Todd Solondz's incisive study of a suburban family is one of the best indie films of the last decade. Having seen it in its theatrical release, we had the opportunity recently to take a new look at it. Mr. Solondz has created a picture of what cruelty does to a child, and how prevalent it is everywhere.

When we first meet the Wieners, living in suburban New Jersey, they appear to be the ideal family. Both parents, on the surface, look normal, but in watching them closely we come to the conclusion they are not. Some couples are not meant to be parents and the Wieners, obviously, while supportive of the older son, Mark, and the cute younger daughter, Missy, turn a blind eye toward Dawn, their middle daughter who is going through a hard time as she starts junior high school.

Not only is Dawn an unhappy girl, but she is the object of cruelty in the hands of the other students, both in her class, and in her school, in general. We watch as Brandon, the punkish boy, begins to taunt Dawn in his own sadistic way. Other girls come right out and ask Dawn whether she is a lesbian. There's also another girl that terrorizes her when both meet in the school bathroom. Every time Dawn tries to rebel, it turns out in disaster. Her school teacher doesn't even see anything wrong with Dawn, who is obviously affected by all she is experiencing at this crucial moment.

Dawn hits a nerve with Brandon when she calls him a retard. Little does she know his own brother is mentally challenged. Usually in the case of bullies like Brandon, they are acting up their frustrations by taking it on others they perceive as weaker, which is why he thinks he can do anything to Dawn because she will never do anything to him.

In a scene that gives cruelty a new name, we watch as the Wieners are having dinner one night. When Dawn contradicts something her mother has said, she is punished by not getting her dessert. We watch in total disbelief as the other Wieners begin to eat and Dawn's slice of chocolate cake remains near her mother until Missy asks to share that piece with Mark.

Dawn only has a friend. The young boy who shares her interests in hanging out in the dollhouse in the Wiener's backyard. When the hunky Steve Rogers joins Mark's band, Dawn discovers an irresistible attraction toward this loser. Dawn turns against her only friend and will call him names that we all realize is her own way to deal with emotions she has no control on. Instead of finding happiness among her peers, Dawn only encounters scorn and ridicule.

In Heather Matarazzo, the director found a young talent to give life to Dawn Wiener. Ms. Matarazzo has a peculiar kind of beauty, but she is made to wear horrible clothes to capture the essence of this sad young teen. Ms. Matarazzo under the guidance of Mr. Solondz makes an appealing Dawn. This young actress gave her character a range of emotions that even older, and more accomplished, actress wouldn't have given to this lost soul.

The rest of the cast is perfect. Brendan Sexton plays Brendan, the boy from a poor and broken home that has to deal with the blow life has given him. Angela Pietropinto as Mrs. Wiener is seen as the mother from hell. Mattew Faber and Daria Kalinina play Dawn's siblings.

This was a film that put Todd Solondz on the map. As he has shown with later films, he is a voice to be reckoned with in the independent cinema.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A very disturbing line in the movie. Movie_FreakCS618
Favorite line??? CharlieBacon
Should I show this in class? syntheea118
This is the most disturbing film ever, FACT! Cremasterfan
The Ending = Great! jc_jo_chuck
music in the movie Lena_7
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