Wetlands

An 18-year-old named Helen lives with a controversial appetite and a belief that body hygiene is overrated. She engages in mysophilic habits and uses unconventional means to satisfy herself, challenging social norms. Her provocative behavior marks the film's opening as she tests boundaries.

Helen visits a brothel to experience being with another woman, seeking sensations beyond her usual acts. The visit sharpens her defiant stance toward societal taboos and introduces a key relationship dynamic.

Her best friend Corinna provides a sanctuary where Helen can voice desires and test limits. Together they push against social norms, deepening Helen's sense of isolation and rebellion.

Her parents are divorced, and Helen longs for them to reunite. Her mother is depressive and hygiene-obsessed, while her father remains distant, leaving Helen feeling unloved.

She teases her quiet younger brother by taking his stuffed bear, exploiting a vulnerable moment at home. This act underlines her craving for control and attention.

She shaves her anal hair too quickly and injures herself, leading to a hospital admission. The incident acts as a catalyst, forcing Helen to confront her inner turmoil.

In the hospital, Helen charms Robin, a handsome nurse entangled with a former lover. A budding romance begins as she seeks comfort and a chance to be seen.

Robin's former lover, still infatuated with him, clashes with Helen, making hospital life more difficult. The tension adds a rival dynamic and raises the stakes of their burgeoning relationship.

Helen and Robin fall in love amid the hospital setting, offering her a new sense of belonging. Their relationship helps her process her past, even as external pressures mount.

Flashbacks reveal Helen's eight-year-old trauma: she witnesses her mother attempting suicide and the family crisis with gas. This memory explains her later behavior and anchors the film's trauma theme.

Towards the end, Helen discusses the trauma with her little brother, acknowledging how hard the conversation is. The talk marks a step toward healing and honesty within their fragile family.

In the van leaving the hospital, Helen sees her parents meeting in the parking lot and chooses to move forward with Robin. She asks him to keep driving, signaling a new path beyond her family's past.