 
  Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | Sandra Nettelbeck | 
|---|---|
| Writer: | Sandra Nettelbeck | 
| Staring: | 
| 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: | Nov 26, 2009 | 
|---|---|
| Director: | Sandra Nettelbeck | 
| Writer: | Sandra Nettelbeck | 
| Genres: | Drama | 
| Keywords | depression, woman director | 
| Production Companies | Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Egoli Tossell Film, Insight Film Studios, Helen Productions | 
| Box Office | Revenue: $34,820 Budget: $8,000,000 | 
| Updates | Updated: Feb 01, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 | 
| Name | Character | 
|---|---|
| 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 | 
| Chelah Horsdal | Kara | 
| Ali Liebert | Donna | 
| Conrad Coates | Stephen | 
| Alex Stevens | Woman | 
| Rob Heschl | Maire'd | 
| Robin Nielsen | Stranger | 
| Adrian Hough | ER Doctor | 
| Julia Keilty | Psych Nurse #1 | 
| Mylène Dinh-Robic | Psych Nurse #2 | 
| Sunita Prasad | Psych Nurse #3 | 
| BJ Harrison | Head Nurse | 
| Hyuma Frankowski | Male Student | 
| David Quinlan | Dan | 
| Veena Sood | Defense Attorney | 
| John Shaw | Prosecutor | 
| Malcolm Stewart | Judge Wilkens | 
| Ken Kramer | Dr. Donahue | 
| Chaz Chamberlain | Man on Pier | 
| Carlo Fanella | Police Officer | 
| Terence Lewis | Father | 
| Rhonda Onstad | Mother | 
| Leigh Bourque | Daughter (as Leah Bourke) | 
| Daisy Lippa | Young Julie | 
| David James Lewis | Dr. Barnes (as David Lewis) | 
| Terry Lewis | Father | 
| Grace Bauer | Store Employee (uncredited) | 
| Vanessa Burns | Mother (uncredited) | 
| Jonathan Holmes | Thief (uncredited) | 
| Ian Thompson | Bus Driver (uncredited) | 
| Name | Job | 
|---|---|
| Barry Egan | Editor | 
| Michael Bertl | Director of Photography | 
| Sandra Nettelbeck | Writer, Director | 
| Janene Carleton | Stunt Double | 
| Owen Walstrom | Stunt Coordinator | 
| Tim Despic | Original Music Composer | 
| Linda Del Rosario | Production Design | 
| Brian Kane | Art Direction | 
| Bettina Helmi | Costume Design | 
| Gitte Axen | Makeup Artist | 
| Sarah Bergeest Still | Makeup Artist | 
| Susanne Woerle-Jiritano | Makeup Artist | 
| Pam Dixon | Casting | 
| Jennifer Page | Casting | 
| Laura Plock | Foley Editor | 
| Name | Title | 
|---|---|
| Christine Haebler | Producer | 
| Jens Meurer | Producer | 
| Judy Tossell | Producer | 
| Robert Little | Executive Producer | 
| Doug Mankoff | Executive Producer | 
| Chris Curling | Executive Producer | 
| Simon Fawcett | Executive Producer | 
| Kirk Shaw | Executive Producer | 
| Andrew Spaulding | Executive Producer | 
| Larry Sugar | Executive Producer | 
| Organization | Category | Person | 
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 12 | 21 | 4 | 
| 2024 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 8 | 
| 2024 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 6 | 
| 2024 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 5 | 
| 2024 | 8 | 9 | 22 | 5 | 
| 2024 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 
| 2024 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 
| 2024 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 
| 2024 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 
| 2025 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 
| 2025 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 
| 2025 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 
Trending Position
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 s ... omeone 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+.