Helen

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+.

With the tragic loss from depression of a close family member, Ashley Judd filmed this movie long before the death of her mother. In the movie, her character Helen, suffers from disabling severe depression. The movie does an accurate job of showing how severe depression impacts daily life. Sleeping a lot, negative self talk, little tasks become overwhelming and, wanting to isolate themselves are some of the typical symptoms. It's very hard for someone not familiar with depression to understand how disabling it is. It's hard for someone dealing with severe depression to explain how disabling it is. I would recommend this movie.

A painful movie about a woman struggling with severe clinical depression.

Ashley Judd has a knack for giving powerhouse performances in movies no one's ever heard of (did you ever see her in "Bug?"), and she disappears utterly into the character of "Helen," who herself descends into hell when her illness makes an appearance after lying dormant for many years. Let me be clear -- this movie is one long sustained note of agony, and it is not pleasant to sit through. But it's fascinating in its own way, and the thought of it haunted me for days after I'd seen it.

The filmmaker clearly had a very personal and painful relationship with her subject (she lost her childhood friend to clinical depression), and one might think this would make her incapable of retaining the objectivity needed to prevent a film like this from turning into melodrama, but one would be wrong for thinking that.

Grade: A-

This movie is a masterpiece into the mind of depression, as being a person with many non severe depressions, I found this movie in-sighting. Too sadly the subject of depression is a taboo and does not get the proper spot on the screen. This is a one of a kind movie that deals with that bravely and straight forward. With no doubt this movie is depressing, but I think it might help people in need,because it shows that you are not alone, and that many people have been in this situation. I recommend you to google the name "Andrew Solomon" which the movie start with his quotation, he have many interesting on the subject. Lastley I think that this movie got a low score is due the fact that people are afraid to deal with this subject.

As a survivor of severe clinical depression --- yes, it can be a killer --- I had a special interest in this film. I could relate to much of it. Yet I'm not sure I would recommend it to someone in the middle of depression. It is very much a "downer." Indeed my wife's comment was "I don't want to look at it. I've been through it." Having said that it is an extremely well executed film in all regards. Someone without any history of depression might not understand it or might think it exaggerates. To someone like myself, it was all too realistic. To someone in the middle of depression, it could push them over the edge. Clinical depression is right behind heart disease and cancer as a killer except that its victims die of suicide. Certainly anything that focuses attention on it such as this movie is good. In addition to its horror, depression too often is a "closet" disease in which the victim feels hopelessly lonely as was evident here as Helen tries unsuccessfully to fake normalcy. (Been there...done that...) I believe this film can be useful to the family of anyone suffering depression because it illustrates the despair of the victim and the immense stress on family and professional life. But it could be dangerous for the actual victim. But thank you for tackling a subject that too often is taboo.