Veronika Decides to Die (2009)

Director:

Emily Young

Writers:

Paulo Coelho (book)
Larry Gross (writer)
Roberta Hanley (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 October 2009 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It wasn't until she decided to die, that Veronika found a reason to live

Plot:

The story centers on Veronika, a woman in her mid twenties who appears to have everything: good looks...

Plot Keywords:

Mental Hospital | Suicide Attempt | Psychiatrist Patient Relationship | Letter Of Resignation | Schizophrenic

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Veronika Deklava
Jonathan Tucker	...	Edward
Erika Christensen	...	Claire
Florencia Lozano	...	Dr. Thompson
Rena Owen	...	Nurse Josephine
Erica Gimpel	...	Nurse White
Victor Slezak	...	Gabriel Durant
Barbara Sukowa	...	Mrs. Deklava
Victor Steinbach	...	Mr. Deklava
Melissa Leo	...	Mari
David Thewlis	...	Dr. Blake
Virl Andrick	...	Boss
Jeff Applegate	...	Anti-Pundit
Lisette Bross	...	Work Colleague #1
Matthew Cowles	...	Old Fred

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:16 | USA:R (certificate #44972) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Das Films

Trivia:

Aidan Quinn and Bridget Fonda were considered for the roles of Mari and Dr. Blake (Dr. Igor in the novel).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Veronika:Well let's see. After you decide that I'm depressed or whatever, you'll put me on meds right?

Movie Connections:

Version of Veronika Decides to Die (2005)

Soundtrack:

Vem vet

The Awareness of Life

In New York, the middle-class Veronika Deklava (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a twenty and something year-old beautiful woman with a good job and a nice apartment. However, the feeling of emptiness of her pessimist view of life leads her to commit suicide with an overdose of pills. She fails in her intent and two weeks later she leaves the coma and awakes in a psychiatric institution directed by the unorthodox Dr. Blake (David Thewlis). She is informed that her OD injured her heart provoking an aneurysm and she has only a few weeks of life. Along the days, Veronika gets closer to the catatonic Edward (Jonathan Tucker), who was left in the institution many years ago. They feel attracted for each other and Veronika discovers the meaning of life again; they escape from the institution and decide to enjoy the miracle of each new day together.

The dramatic "Veronika Decides to Die" is based on the best-seller of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho and has a magnificent performance of Sarah Michelle Gellar in the role of a suicidal young woman. Her complex character becomes aware of the simple things that make life so wonderful only after finding the meaning of love. The screenplay has great lines and discusses good points like the definition of insanity or the meaning of life. The cinematography and the stylish music score are very beautiful. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Veronika Decide Morrer" ("Veronika Decides to Die")