Heaven is a magical place called Helium in Anders Walter's Oscar-nominated short about a young boy in hospice care. Alfred becomes friends with the janitor, Enzo, who tells stories about a poetic realm beyond this world, of floating islands in a sea of clouds. A place in the sky where sick boys will go when they become too ill to remain at the hospice.
"The film is almost magical in the way it moves between the reality of the boy's life dimming and the janitor's determination to finish the fable," says Betsy Sharkey of Los Angeles Times. "A great humanity and heart, adeptly underplayed, in every frame."
Anders Walter has worked as an illustrator and comic book artist since the age of 17 and has directed music videos. He came in contact with M&M Productions, as he was working on a few ideas for short films and knew that M&M Productions, three-time Oscar winners in the Live Action Short category, focused on telling good stories in the short format.
"When I write stories, there is always an element of magical realism. The kind of magical realism that characterizes 'Helium' was a huge part of my own childhood and adolescence," Anders Walter says to the Danish daily Politiken.
Pointing to "The Brothers Lionheart" by Astrid Lindgren as a tremendous inspiration, Walter ads that, when making films for children, there is no contradiction in celebrating life while addressing its serious issues.
"Helium" is produced by M&M Productions who won the Oscar in the Live Action Short category on three previous occasions – for "Election Night" in 1999, "This Charming Man" in 2003, and "The New Tenants" in 2010.
About Anders Walter
Born 1978. Has lived of drawing since he was a teenager and worked for a number of major advertising agencies. Created the comic book series "Solas", illustrated novels and designed movie posters. Has made music videos plus the three short films "The Talking Suitcase", "9 Meter" and the Oscar-nominated "Helium".
Helium
Drengen Alfred ligger dødeligt syg på hospitalet. Han bliver gode venner med den excentriske rengøringsmand Enzo, og sammen udvikler de en magisk fantasiverden, Helium, som Alfred drømmer sig ind i. Enzos historier bliver et tilflugtssted fra dagene på hospitalet, og det får Alfred til at genfinde glæden ved livet.