Helen (2009)

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

Director:

Sandra Nettelbeck

Writer:

Sandra Nettelbeck (screenplay)

Stars:

Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic, Lauren Lee Smith

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ashley Judd	...	Helen Leonard
Goran Visnjic	...	David Leonard
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Mathilda
Alexia Fast	...	Julie
Alberta Watson	...	Dr. Sherman
Leah Cairns	...	Susanna
David Hewlett	...	Frank
David Nykl	...	John
Chelah Horsdal	...	Kara
Ali Liebert	...	Donna
Conrad Coates	...	Stephen
Alex Stevens	...	Woman
Rob Heschl	...	Maire'd
Robin Nielsen	...	Stranger
Adrian Hough	...	ER Doctor

Storyline

Helen has it all: friends, an attentive second husband, a cheerful teen daughter, musical talent, and a university teaching job. Then, something's amiss: is her husband cheating, does she have a fatal disease, does her past haunt her? There's a quick hospitalization, a disclosure, a bond with one of her students, Mathilde, and a dark chasm that seems to be opening in front of her: can Helen do anything about the problem she won't discuss, or will it swallow her?

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | forename as title | professor | clinical depression | f rated | 

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Taglines:

To reach the light, we have to face the darkness. [Scandinavian DVD.]

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ashley Judd had an attack of appendicitis while filming in a vacant wing of a hospital and was rushed to emergency surgery.

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Quotes

Dr. Barnes: Your wife is not unhappy, Mr Leonard. Your wife is ill.

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Soundtracks

The ground
Performed by Tord Gustavsen Trio

User Reviews

Too long, too dark

This movie is way too long for the events it depicts, and way too dark both in content and in the film. I understand the under lighted scenes are supposed to reflect the darkness of depression, but it's as annoying to watch two hours of no one bothering to turn on a light bulb as it is to watch the scenes being drawn out for time needlessly.

I also found it was a completely predictable story.

That being said the score was really good, as was the acting from everyone in this movie. If a half hour more was moved to the cutting room floor it wouldn't be missed and the movie would be better for it, but it would still be a movie few people will want to sit through, a dark drama on clinical depression.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Germany]

Country:

USA UK Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Хелън

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,820

Company Credits

Production Co:

Egoli Tossell Pictures, Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Helen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1