Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Helen

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Helen (2009)
A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression.
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
21 Photos
  • Drama
A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression.A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression.A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sandra Nettelbeck
  • Writer
    • Sandra Nettelbeck(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ashley Judd
    • Goran Visnjic
    • Lauren Lee Smith
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sandra Nettelbeck
  • Writer
    • Sandra Nettelbeck(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ashley Judd
    • Goran Visnjic
    • Lauren Lee Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Helen
    Trailer 2:09
    Helen

    Photos21

    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)
    Helen (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ashley Judd
    Ashley Judd
    • Helen Leonardas Helen Leonard
    Goran Visnjic
    Goran Visnjic
    • David Leonardas David Leonard
    Lauren Lee Smith
    Lauren Lee Smith
    • Mathildaas Mathilda
    Alexia Fast
    Alexia Fast
    • Julieas Julie
    Alberta Watson
    Alberta Watson
    • Dr. Shermanas Dr. Sherman
    Leah Cairns
    Leah Cairns
    • Susannaas Susanna
    David Hewlett
    David Hewlett
    • Frankas Frank
    David Nykl
    David Nykl
    • Johnas John
    Chelah Horsdal
    Chelah Horsdal
    • Karaas Kara
    Ali Liebert
    Ali Liebert
    • Donnaas Donna
    Conrad Coates
    Conrad Coates
    • Stephenas Stephen
    Alex Stevens
    • Womanas Woman
    Rob Heschl
    Rob Heschl
    • Maire'das Maire'd
    Robin Nielsen
    • Strangeras Stranger
    Adrian Hough
    Adrian Hough
    • ER Doctoras ER Doctor
    Julia Keilty
    • Psych Nurse #1as Psych Nurse #1
    Mylène Dinh-Robic
    Mylène Dinh-Robic
    • Psych Nurse #2as Psych Nurse #2
    Sunita Prasad
    Sunita Prasad
    • Psych Nurse #3as Psych Nurse #3
    • Director
      • Sandra Nettelbeck
    • Writer
      • Sandra Nettelbeck(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Lovely & Amazing
    6.7
    Lovely & Amazing
    Fireflies in the Garden
    6.4
    Fireflies in the Garden
    The Burning Plain
    6.8
    The Burning Plain
    The Life Before Her Eyes
    6.3
    The Life Before Her Eyes
    I Smile Back
    6.1
    I Smile Back
    Back Roads
    6.5
    Back Roads
    Cake
    6.4
    Cake
    Like Crazy
    7.2
    Like Crazy
    Spartan
    6.5
    Spartan
    Young Adult
    6.3
    Young Adult
    Broken
    7.2
    Broken
    The Song of Names
    6.4
    The Song of Names

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

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

    • Soundtracks
      No place to fall
      Performed by The Little Willies

    User reviews21

    Review
    Top review
    Welcome to the mind of a depressed person
    At first I didn't like this movie a whole lot. As other reviewers have already pointed out, it's merciless in its stereotypical portrayal of people: every character in the movie is a royal jerk except for the 2 depressed people, and it gives the impression that all doctors are cold-hearted sadists, all spouses are selfish psychos, and people in general are totally apathetic.

    But hold on...

    Then it suddenly dawned on me, duh, that's exactly how one views the world when one is in the throes of depression. I believe it wasn't the filmmakers' intent to make an objective film. I think they were out to show us a somewhat skewed perspective through the eyes of a depressed person. At that, it's very successful.

    So yes, this is a depressing movie. It's dark. It's irritating. It makes you feel like the world is a sucky place. But if, for some bizarre reason, you want to know what it's like to be depressed, then this is the movie for you.

    I can't say that I "enjoyed" it (I'm no masochist!) but I can say that it's very well made, with excellent acting, effective cinematography (good use of focus & blurring), and a fitting musical score. Just as "Peewee's Big Adventure" takes us into the mind of a manically happy person with its cartoon colours and bouncy pace, "Helen" shows us the opposite side of the coin with its darkness, bleached visuals and monotonous presentation. If you want to know what it's like to be bipolar, I suppose you could watch the 2 movies back to back.

    Movies like this: "House of Sand and Fog" (or as I like to call it, "House of Sand and Why Don't We Just Slit Our Wrists and Save Ourselves the DVD Rental Fee") and "Leaving Las Vegas". All of these are excellent films. But wow, hide the sharp metal objects before viewing.
    helpful•15
    2
    • rooprect
    • Sep 30, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 26, 2009 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Germany)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Элен
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Egoli Tossell Pictures
      • Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
      • Helen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $34,820
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Helen (2009)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Helen (2009) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:02
    LGBTQIA+ Movies and Shows to Watch This Summer
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.