Drama

Helen

- Recurence of mental illness cripples successful woman.

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.

Release Date : 2009-11-26

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Insight Film StudiosEgoli Tossell FilmFilmstiftung Nordrhein-WestfalenHelen Productions

Production Country : CanadaGermanyUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Helen

Original Name : Ashley Judd

Gender : Female

Character Name : David

Original Name : Goran Višnjić

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mathilda

Original Name : Lauren Lee Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Julie

Original Name : Alexia Fast

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Sherman

Original Name : Alberta Watson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Susanna

Original Name : Leah Cairns

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : David Hewlett

Gender : Male

Character Name : John

Original Name : David Nykl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kara

Original Name : Chelah Horsdal

Gender : Female

Character Name : Donna

Original Name : Ali Liebert

Gender : Female

Character Name : Stephen

Original Name : Conrad Coates

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman

Original Name : Alex Stevens

Gender : Female

Character Name : Maire'd

Original Name : Rob Heschl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stranger

Original Name : Robin Nielsen

Gender : Male

Character Name : ER Doctor

Original Name : Adrian Hough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Psych Nurse #1

Original Name : Julia Keilty

Gender : Female

Character Name : Psych Nurse #2

Original Name : Mylène Dinh-Robic

Gender : Female

Character Name : Psych Nurse #3

Original Name : Sunita Prasad

Gender : Female

Character Name : Head Nurse

Original Name : BJ Harrison

Gender : Female

Character Name : Male Student

Original Name : Hyuma Frankowski

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dan

Original Name : David Quinlan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Defense Attorney

Original Name : Veena Sood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Prosecutor

Original Name : John Shaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge Wilkens

Original Name : Malcolm Stewart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Donahue

Original Name : Ken Kramer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man on Pier

Original Name : Chaz Chamberlain

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Carlo Fanella

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father

Original Name : Terence Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mother

Original Name : Rhonda Onstad

Gender : Female

Character Name : Daughter (as Leah Bourke)

Original Name : Leigh Bourque

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Julie

Original Name : Daisy Lippa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Barnes (as David Lewis)

Original Name : David James Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father

Original Name : Terry Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Store Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Grace Bauer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mother (uncredited)

Original Name : Vanessa Burns

Gender : Female

Character Name : Thief (uncredited)

Original Name : Jonathan Holmes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bus Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Ian Thompson

Gender : Male

Reviews

BornKnight

@BornKnight

2023-11-14

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+.