Movie spotlight
A young boy, Alfred, is dying, but through the stories about Helium, a magical fantasy world, told by the hospital's eccentric janitor, Enzo, Alfred regains the joy and happiness of his life, and finds a safe haven away from daily life.
Oskar is a young boy with an incurable illness, who finds solace and friendship in his imagination. His father, a passionate scientist, dedicates himself to finding a cure for his son's rare condition. The film explores the profound bond between a father and son, the challenges of facing terminal illness, and the enduring power of hope and love in the face of adversity.
Helium received a mixed to positive reception, with critics often highlighting its emotional depth and strong performances, particularly from the lead actors. Some found the narrative poignant and well-acted, while others felt it occasionally leaned into sentimentality.
Praised for its sensitive portrayal of childhood illness and paternal love.
Noted for strong performances by Valerio Mastandrea and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
Some critics found the emotional tone to be overly sentimental at times.
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The film was presented at the Rome Film Fest in 2014.
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There is something quite unsentimentally touching about this story of the young “Alfred” (Pelle Falk Krusbæk). He is a perfectly lucid, but wheelchair bound, lad who is terminally ill in a Danish hospital and who sits in the garden daydream...