| Helene | |
| Director: | Antti Jokinen |
| Based On: | Helene by Rakel Liehu |
| Music: | Kirka Sainio |
| Cinematography: | Rauno Ronkainen |
| Editing: | Benjamin Mercer |
| Studio: | Cinematic |
| Distributor: | Nordisk Film |
| Runtime: | 122 minutes |
| Country: | Finland |
| Language: | Finnish |
| Budget: | €2,290,500[1] |
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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
Episodi magazine praised Laura Birn's performance, Rauno Ronkainen’s cinematography, and Kirka Sainio's music.[5] 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.[6]