out now

Helen DVD & Download

A film by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor

Also on disc & on demand

Synopsis

HELEN marks the extraordinary debut feature for Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, the writing/directing team who won the Edinburgh Film Festival Best Short Film Award in 2004 for WHO KILLED BROWN OWL.

HELEN was premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh Film Festival where the film’s originality and elegant shooting style received praise and critical attention, being described by one critic as “the latest sign of a UK art cinema resurgence” (Jonathan Romney in the Independent on Sunday) and “a hypnotic first feature” (Allan Hunter in Screen International). HELEN marks another exciting discovery for British cinema.

An 18 year old girl called Joy has gone missing. A college-mate of hers called Helen is a few weeks away from leaving her care home. Helen is asked to “play” Joy in a police reconstruction that will retrace Joy’s last known movements. Joy represents all that was missing from Helen’s life – she had parents, a boyfriend, a future. Gradually Helen immerses herself in the role, and by borrowing elements of Joy’s life begins herself to flower.

The DVD includes Joy - the companion short to Helen, and an interview with the directors.

Where It's On

DVD available from:
Amazon UK

Rent or download from:
BFI Player

iTunes

Amazon Video

Trailer

Director — Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor

Over the past 4 years Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor have been working on a project called Civic Life. Civic Life involved local community groups in the production of nine high-quality short films for the cinema, shot on 35mm cinemascope making extensive use of the long take. In 2004, their film Who Killed Brown Owl won the award for Best British Short Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. In January 2008 their latest short film Joy won the Prix UIP Rotterdam at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Helen is the culmination of the Civic Life series.

Directors' website

Filmography

2008/09
Mister John
Feature film in development.

2007/08
Joy
UK | 2008 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 9mins
Joy is a companion piece to Helen and was shot in Handsworth Park, Birmingham on 28th October 2007 using the participation of local members of the community.

Helen
UK/IRL | 2008 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 79minsHelen in the debut feature film of Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor which premiered at the Edinbugh International Film Festival in June 2008 where it was nominated for a Michael Powell award and was picked up for distribution by New Wave Films.

2006
DaydreamUK | 2007 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 29mins
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/Daydream.html

2005
Leisure Centre
UK/IRL | 2005 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 17mins 40secs
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/leisurecentre.html2005
Town Hall
UK | 2005 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 10mins 35secs
Currently in post-production.
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/TownHall.html

2005
Twilight
UK | 2005 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 5mins 20secs
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/Twilight.html

2004
Revolution
UK | 2004 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 9mins 53secs
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/revolution.html

2004
Moore Street
IRL | 2004 | Swahili/English | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 5mins 45secs
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/moorestreet.html

2004
Who Killed Brown Owl
UK | 2004 | Colour | 35mm | 1:2.35 | 9mins 23secs
www.desperateoptimists.com/civiclife/BrownOwl.html

VIDEO
2002
Night Bus
www.desperateoptimists.com/nightbus/index.html

2001/2002
London Framed
www.desperateoptimists.com/london_framed/index.html
Apt#801
Shot on DV and transferred on to 35mm
3mins

2000
No Motive
17min video
1999
Shot 7
Directed and edited a 9 minute film for Urban Shots, a live outdoor event as part of Weimar 1999 Cultural Capital programme.
Shot on 16mm and transferred to DV
9mins

1997
BLIPVERT
Shot on Hi8 and transferred to 35mm
45 seconds

Cast & Credits

Director, Writer and Producer.....CHRISTINE MOLLOY and JOE LAWLOR

Director of Photography.....OLE BIRKELAND

Original Music.....DENNIS MCNULTY

Production Manager.....JULIE LAU

Sound Mixer.....SIMON GILLMAN

Sound Supervisors.....BARNABY TEMPLER, JAKE ROBERTS

Re-recording Mixers.....GRAHAM DANIEL, ADAM DANIEL

Script Editor.....BEN SLATER

1st Assistant Director.....JAMES DAVISON

Production.....desperate optimists

The commissioning partners.....NewcastleGateshead Initiative via Culture10, its regional events and festivals programme; Tyneside Cinema; Birmingham City Council; Dublin Docklands Development Authority; the Liverpool Culture Company; and Arts Council England.

With the participation of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board

COLOUR – 79 MINUTES - DOLBY SR SRD – CINEMASCOPE UK / IRELAND

Filmed using Panavision Millennium camera and Panavision E – Series anamorphic lenses.

Helen.....ANNIE TOWNSEND

Mrs Thompson.....SANDIE MALIA

Mr Thompson.....DENNIS JOBLING

Police Officer Saville.....SONIA SAVILLE

Danny.....DANNY GROENLAND

Personal Advisor.....SHEILA HAMILTON

Key Worker.....BETTY ASHE

Drama Teacher.....GAVIN HUSCROFT

Police Officers.....CHARLENE JAMES, KEITH SAHA