

Helen
On the surface, Helen appears to have it all—a loving family and a thriving career—but when her repressed mental illness resurfaces, her world begins to crumble. Depression cripples her, and she finds solace in a deep friendship with Mathilda, a kindred spirit who also battles bipolar disorder.
Director(s)
Sandra Nettelbeck
Rachel Leiterman
Debra Herst
Steven A. Adelson
Bonnie Benwick
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
BornKnight
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+.
Helen FAQs
The directors of Helen are Sandra Nettelbeck, Rachel Leiterman, Debra Herst, Steven A. Adelson, and Bonnie Benwick.
The cast of Helen includes Ashley Judd as Helen, Malcolm Stewart as Judge Wilkens, Alberta Watson as Dr. Sherman, Veena Sood as Defense Attorney, Ken Kramer as Dr. Donahue, Jonathan Holmes as Thief (uncredited), Goran Višnjić as David, David James Lewis as Dr. Barnes (as David Lewis), Chelah Horsdal as Kara, John Shaw as Prosecutor, Sunita Prasad as Psych Nurse #3, Conrad Coates as Stephen, and more.
The duration of Helen is 2h 0 mins.
Yes. You can watch the Helen trailer on this Fanbiz page on Fanziz.
Helen was released on 26 Nov 2009.
Helen is listed under Drama on Fanbiz.
Helen has 1 review on Fanziz, with an average rating of 6.0/10. One reviewer wrote: "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 Ashle..."
































