There must have been a few suppressed giggles when the subject of Hysteria was first suggested in high-powered Hollywood meetings. Thankfully, debut director Tanya Wexler had a strong enough belief that the story of the invention of the vibrator was worthy of cinematic treatment to make it happen. The result is an entertaining and informative piece of filmmaking.

Wexler (actress Daryl Hannah’s half-sister) begins her story in Victorian London, where Mortimer Granville, an idealistic young physician, is struggling to treat his female patients while his disapproving boss Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce) scowls in the background. The women are desperate to be relieved of their crushing sexual frustrations in an era of strict morality. Into the frame steps Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Dalrymple’s high-spirited, opinionated and forward-thinking daughter.

Treading a fine line between bawdy humour and social commentary, Hysteria manages to bring to life a slice of history rarely talked about. Both funny and shocking, it’s a touching story of finding fulfilling love in the unlikeliest of places.