Helen (2009)

Helen: Directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. With Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic, Lauren Lee Smith, Alexia Fast. A talented professor is forced to come to terms with her clinical depression.

“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 Iu0026#39;m not sure I would recommend it to someone in the middle of depression. It is very much a u0026quot;downer.u0026quot; Indeed my wifeu0026#39;s comment was u0026quot;I donu0026#39;t want to look at it. Iu0026#39;ve been through it.u0026quot; 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 u0026quot;closetu0026quot; 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.”