The scene in Alexei Balabanov’s film, when a teacher of scientific atheism visits the church with the desire to undergo the “baptism rite”, could well be considered ridiculous if it were not for its frankly concluding character, crowning the story of the character with a prayer in anticipation of the evening service. The heroine of Andrei Zvyagintsev, who came to the temple to put candles, is distinguished not only by getting into an unfamiliar environment, but also by the careless fatigue of the scarf who slept from his head.
If we consider “Helena” as a kind of road movie, in which the main character moves from one closed world to the next, then this fatigue, like a fatal noise in the engine, accompanies a woman on long-planned trips.
Fatigue with her husband's environment, where she is emphatically unwilling to share his leisure. And where it continues to exist apart from this huge apartment, which accepts it only as a maid.
A meaningless conversation with Katya, which for some reason is needed, but why - Elena forgot because of fatigue, spreading empty edifying phrases. Elena is even somewhere comfortable to communicate with such a nasty “stepdaughter”, which increases her own self-esteem.
“I’m so tired of apologizing,” Elena silently confesses in the temple, where she is asked not to think about repentance, but only to put on a headscarf. Will there be an “introduction to the temple” calling from the icon if it is difficult for you to cover your head? Any reminder of a possible apology - be it a mild reproach from a doctor or even a mocking toast from a son's funeral - evokes a rejection reaction.
The multitude of people living in many worlds and speaking many languages is an unbearable reminder of their own inadequacy. Tired to live, a person has nothing left but choosing the hell of his own aquarium environment, where you are still the largest fish, about which everyone in the world will tirelessly repeat a talk show.
9 out of 10
Original