Helen

2009 2h 0m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 70

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

On the outside, Helen has it all – a loving family and a successful career – but when her suppressed mental illness resurfaces, the world crumbles around her. Crippled by depression, Helen finds solace through her friendship with Mathilda, a kindred spirit struggling with bipolar disorder.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Ashley Judd
Helen
Goran Višnjić
David
Lauren Lee Smith
Mathilda
Alexia Fast
Julie
Alberta Watson
Dr. Sherman
Leah Cairns
Susanna
David Hewlett
Frank
David Nykl
John

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sandra Nettelbeck
Writers: Sandra Nettelbeck
Languages: English
Countries: Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, shot by Michael Bertl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Tim Despic. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Barry Egan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ashley Judd and Goran Višnjić and Lauren Lee Smith carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1012729 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sandra Nettelbeck directs. Michael Bertl behind the camera. Tim Despic scores. Barry Egan cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 17 years ago.
3International production across 4 countries: Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, shot by Michael Bertl. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Tim Despic. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Barry Egan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Ashley Judd and Goran Višnjić and Lauren Lee Smith carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt1012729 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 70 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Michael Bertl
Original score: Tim Despic
Editing: Barry Egan
Production design: Linda Del Rosario
Costume design: Bettina Helmi
Makeup / hair: Gitte Axen
Stunt coordinator: Owen Walstrom
Runtime: 120 min · 2h 0m
Status: Released
Budget: $8,000,000
Box office: $34,820
Return: 0% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Helen (2009)

Also by

Sandra Nettelbeck

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

BornKnight2023-11-08
★ 6/10
This movie was mostly a tough watch because it is something I lived with - the great and only part that deserves a view and that give to it a 3 stars is the performance of Ashley Judd and actress than than Jean and Marilyn series, didn't shine of so many movies. Her role is just pure anguish to someone that had similar diagnoses to the ones that her character pass on the movie (Major Depression with psychotic symptoms and a light bipolar disturb). Probably her best role in any work she had done, that shows easily the anguish, sometimes semeling without cause and the masks we have to use dya thought day to be in a "normal" life. Also it have and explanation as Judd (and multi-activist) herself had major depression thought her life that isn't something that you can "cure" overnight, you just learn to cope with it. She lived a troubled life thought her youth and entered major rehabilitation in 2006 - and now with the suicide of her mother in 2022 (yes, in many cases it is something that runs through the family). The major flaws probably are by Sandra Nettelbeck, the german writer and director - herself a depression survivor - mostly know by "Mostly Martha" (2001) and somelighter movies. The story could be a lot better written and the choice of Goran Visnjic (lately seen in some series and in Hellraiser remake) as a lovely husband that tries to cope with the situation isn't the best, and the choice of support that only someone that passed thought that can understand what it is is a partial true - because lot's of people can understand that by empathy even didn't really lived depression. As a whole it is something that I can only recommend to someone that wants to see what is to live with major depression (even if we don't "read" what is going inside the protagonist head) - painful to see as real as it can be. I imagine this TV movie (it seems to be because of some black screen change in some sequences) in the hands of a most skilled writer and director what t could be with Ashely and her acting. If taken most seriously it could be a contender for best actress. Overall for her work a 6,0 out of 10,0 / C+.

Production companies