Page "Todd Solondz" Paragraph 6

The frustrations of his first feature led Solondz to swear off further involvement with the industry.

More than five years later, an attorney friend urged Solondz to give filmmaking another go, and promised to partially finance any project Solondz came up with.

The end result was 1995's Welcome to the Dollhouse, which went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

The dark comedy follows the travails of Dawn Wiener, a bespectacled, toothy, and shy 7th-grade girl who is mercilessly teased at school and treated to alternating contempt and neglect at home.

It was distinct from most earlier films about adolescent abuse due to its complex characterization.

It gave a sympathetic portrayal of the bully antagonist Brandon, and its depiction of Dawn, the ostensible protagonist and victim of the story, showed her as deeply flawed and sometimes cruel.

The film was a major success among critics, and a moderate success at the box office.

It was a festival hit, with screenings all over the world.