Helene (2020 film)
{{Infobox film
| name = Helene
| image = Helene (2020 film).jpg
| caption =
| director = Antti Jokinen
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Antti J. Jokinen
- Marko Leino
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Mikko Tenhunen
- Antti J. Jokinen
}}
| based_on = Helene by Rakel Liehu
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = Kirka Sainio
| cinematography = Rauno Ronkainen
| editing = Benjamin Mercer
| studio = {{ill|Cinematic (company)|lt=Cinematic|fi|Cinematic}}
| distributor = Nordisk Film
| released = {{Film date|2020|01|17|df=yes}}
| runtime = 122 minutes
| country = Finland
| language = Finnish
| budget = €2,290,500{{Cite web|url=https://ses.fi/elokuva/helene/|title=Helene|publisher=Finnish Film Foundation|accessdate=23 March 2020}}
| gross =
}}
Helene is a 2020 Finnish historical drama film directed by Antti Jokinen. The film stars Laura Birn as the titular Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck. It is based on the Rakel Liehu’s Runeberg Prize-winning novel of the same name, adapted for the screen by Jokinen and Marko Leino.{{Cite web|url=https://nordiskfilm.fi/ohjaaja-antti-j-jokisen-suurelokuva-helene-kertoo-taidemaalari-helene-schjerfbeckin-elaman-rakkaudesta-elokuvan-paaosissa-laura-birn-ja-johannes-holopainen/|title=Antti J. Jokinen’s film Helene depicts the life and love of painter Helene Schjerfbeck – starring Laura Birn and Johannes Holopainen|publisher=Nordisk Film Finland|date=12 October 2018|accessdate=13 November 2019}}
The film was released on 17 January 2020 and became the most-watched movie in Finland for three consecutive weeks, attracting over 100,000 viewers within its first two weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://ses.fi/top-20-helene-kolmatta-viikkoa-katsotuin/|title=Top 20: Helene is the most-watched movie for three weeks|publisher=Finnish Film Foundation|date=3 February 2020|accessdate=10 February 2020}}
Cast
- Laura Birn as Helene Schjerfbeck
- Johannes Holopainen as Einar Reuter
- Krista Kosonen as Helena Westermarck
- Pirkko Saisio as Olga Schjerfbeck
- Eero Aho as Magnus Schjerfbeck
- Jarkko Lahti as Gösta Stenman
- Saana Koivisto as Tyra Arp
Reception
The decision to produce the film in Finnish rather than Swedish, the primary language of its historical subjects, sparked some debate. Art historian Pontus Kyander suggested boycotting the film due to the language choice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000005873757.html|title=Art historian suggests boycotting Helene Schjerfbeck movie|author=Hiilamo, Elli-Alina|date=23 October 2018|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|accessdate=16 January 2020}}
Episodi magazine praised Laura Birn's performance, Rauno Ronkainen’s cinematography, and Kirka Sainio's music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.episodi.fi/elokuvat/helene/|title=Helene Review|author=Liekso, Hannu|publisher=Episodi|date=15 January 2020|accessdate=16 January 2020}} However, some critics, such as Juho Typpö of Helsingin Sanomat, noted the film lacked dramatic and lighter elements, and felt its depiction of Schjerfbeck's inner struggles was incomplete.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006374601.html|title=Helene Review|author=Typpö, Juho|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|date=17 January 2020|accessdate=19 January 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}