Helen (2009)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Sandra Nettelbeck

Writer:

Sandra Nettelbeck (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 November 2009 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression. |

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Clinical Depression | Best Friend | Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship | Electroshock Therapy

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Ashley Judd	...	Helen
Goran Visnjic	...	David
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Mathilda
Alexia Fast	...	Julie
Alberta Watson	...	Dr. Sherman
David Nykl	...	John
David Hewlett	...	Frank
Leah Cairns	...	Susanna
Ali Liebert	...	Donna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grace Bauer	...	Store Employee
Chaz Chamberlain	...	Man
Jonathan Holmes	...	Thief
Chelah Horsdal	...	Kara
Julia Keilty	...	Psych Nurse #1
Robin Nielsen	...	Young Man
Sunita Prasad
David Quinlan	...	Dan
Mylene Robic	...	Psych Nurse #2
Veena Sood	...	Defense Attorney
Malcolm Stewart	...	Wilkins
Ian Thompson	...	Bus Driver

Runtime:

USA:120 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA | UK | Germany | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Egoli Tossell Film

Trivia:

Gillian Anderson originally was set to play "Helen" but dropped out of the film due to a scheduling conflict.

A Deeper Look At Mental Ilness in the Family

From a purely clinical standpoint, a purist would likely find that there are number of stylized caricatures, stereotypical performances, and clichés even in this fictionalized family drama even though writer/director Sandra Nettleback undertook her own research into the terrible affliction of what she calls "suicidal depression," in what amounted to a ten year project. Inspired by an article written by a man with severe depression and the suicide of a personal friend of her's more than a decade ago, this movie still contains numerous overtures to the more mainstream viewpoint of mental illness. However, this somewhat long movie continues to build and reveal a depth toward mental illness and its complications leading toward a somewhat more traditional ending. There are some parallels to "Girl Interrupted" (1999), particularly with the relationship developed between the two women in that movie and this movie. The sound track in this movie is superb and really adds a special intimacy and richness to this movie along with nice musical tracks. It is surprisingly Lauren Lee Smith as Mathilda that provides the most intriguing and authentic performance, though Ashley Judd's performance as well as Gorin Visnjic's performance may have suffered a bit more from a script developed by an outsider's view of mental illness rather than their acting ability themselves. This movie taken by a non-professional however, does offer up some of the dramatic aspects of mental illness and refers to a treatment that has been rarely mentioned anymore in mainstream movies on the topic. Overall, this movie deserves wider distribution to the general public as it provides a layperson's look into an important medical issue as well as maintaining a compelling dramatic appeal sufficient to offer the general audience the satisfaction of having experienced a meaningful and worthwhile movie. - Screened at the Sundance Film Festival- Eight out of Ten Stars.