Ashley Judd's performance is so good, natural and real that make this awful movie almost a masterpiece by herself.
On the other hand, the story is awful, full of clichés. For example, there are not even a single good man in this movie, in order of appearance:
Through out the whole story only a woman can understand a woman, and only women can be kind and supportive.
This makes the movie more like a stereotypical, sexist propaganda against man, depicting the depressive Helen more as a victim than as a sick person who refuses to fight against a mental illness.
In a world full of food additives causing depression, electroshock as the only option of treatment sounds like one more cliché.
I really liked the slow paced and dark mood, though.
On the other hand, the story is awful, full of clichés. For example, there are not even a single good man in this movie, in order of appearance:
- A narrow-minded husband.
- A rough doctor.
- An inpatient student.
- A quitter ex-husband.
- And even a rapist!
Through out the whole story only a woman can understand a woman, and only women can be kind and supportive.
This makes the movie more like a stereotypical, sexist propaganda against man, depicting the depressive Helen more as a victim than as a sick person who refuses to fight against a mental illness.
In a world full of food additives causing depression, electroshock as the only option of treatment sounds like one more cliché.
I really liked the slow paced and dark mood, though.