Wetlands

Set in the present day, the film mirrors contemporary attitudes toward sexuality, hygiene, and trauma. It situates Helen's experiments and healing within urban environments that blur private desires and public judgments. The time period reinforces the film's themes of self-definition, family strain, and the search for connection in a society that can be permissive yet judgmental.

Most scenes unfold in a hospital ward where Helen is treated after the shaving accident; later the action shifts to a brothel that challenges social norms, and to mobile spaces like a van and a parking lot that frame pivotal decisions. The hospital setting emphasizes vulnerability, care, and the clash between medical authority and personal transgression. The brothel and the transport spaces underscore the temporary, boundary-crossing nature of Helen's exploration and the film's commentary on taboo.

🌶️ Sexuality and Taboo

The film probes how a young woman explores sexuality, challenging conventional norms and exposing the pressure to conform. Helen's provocative actions and exploration, including visiting a brothel, push against societal boundaries. The narrative uses these acts to reveal loneliness, longing for connection, and the complexity of desire. It also raises questions about consent, power, and societal judgments surrounding female sexuality.

🧠 Trauma and Memory

Helen's adult actions are rooted in a hidden childhood trauma—the moment she witnessed her mother attempting to harm herself and her brother. The film traces how that event shapes her coping mechanisms and misperceptions of hygiene and cleanliness. The search for alleviation and validation leads to risky behaviors and self-discovery. Healing comes through confession and facing the past with her brother and loved ones.

👪 Family and Relationships

The movie centers on fractured family bonds—divorced parents, an absent father figure, and a longing for reunion. Helen's efforts to reunite her parents drive much of the plot, showing both fragility and resilience in family dynamics. The relationships she forms with Corinna and Robin offer alternate forms of care and belonging. The narrative uses these bonds to explore vulnerability, trust, and the desire to belong.

🏥 Mental Health and Society

Set against a hospital backdrop, the story highlights the stigma and misunderstandings surrounding mental health and extreme sexual behavior. The environment reveals the pressures on caregivers and patients alike, as protagonists grapple with isolation and judgment. Through Helen's experiences, the film critiques societal taboos and invites empathy for those whose coping strategies are unconventional. The ending suggests a cautious hope that communication can bridge personal trauma and family reconciliation.