Plot synopsis Sybil (2007 film)

tammy blanchard , jessica lange in sybil

troubled columbia university art student , later student teacher sybil dorsett referred psychiatrist cornelia wilbur dr. atcheson, colleague believes young woman suffering female hysteria. treatment progresses, sybil confesses experiences blackouts , cannot account large blocks of time. wilbur helps recall childhood in suffered physical, emotional, , sexual abuse @ hands of disturbed mother hattie.

eventually 16 identities varying in age , personal traits begin emerge. chief among them victoria, french woman explains dr. wilbur how shepherds many parts of sybil s whole. frustrating therapist objections raised associates, suspect has influenced patient creating other selves, , sybil s father, refuses admit late wife other loving mother.

although had promised never hypnotize sybil, later treatment dr. wilbur takes patient home lake , hypnotizes having 16 personalities same age , become aspects of sybil. nightfall sybil claims feels different , emotionally declares hatred toward mother.

the last part of movie tells of history of shirley mason, real woman known pseudonym of sybil dorsett.