Welcome to the Dollhouse

Welcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 coming of age black comedy. An independent film, it launched the careers of Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo. Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo), an unattractive and unpopular 7th grader with only one friend, lives in a middle class suburban community in New Jersey where she is bullied in school and deals with crushes and rejection along with family problems such as having inattentive parents, sibling rivalry, an... more

Welcome to the Dollhouse is a 1995 coming of age black comedy. An independent film, it launched the careers of Todd Solondz and Heather Matarazzo. Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo), an unattractive and unpopular 7th grader with only one friend, lives in a middle class suburban community in New Jersey where she is bullied in school and deals with crushes and rejection along with family problems such as having inattentive parents, sibling rivalry, and the kidnapping of her sister. The film starts with Dawn trying to find a seat at her school's cafeteria to have lunch and ending up sitting on a spot where someone previously vomited. During her meal, several cheerleaders tease her and ask Dawn if she is a "lesbo". Her only friend is a fifth grader named Ralphie who seems a bit effeminate himself, and frequently referred to as "fag" throughout the film. We're next introduced to Dawn's pretentious older brother, Mark. He is a nerdy high schooler who plays the clarinet in a garage band.... less