In a children’s hospital, terminally ill Alfred is terrified of dying. The nurses and doctors avoid the subject, but Enzo, the hospital janitor, takes a different approach — he tells Alfred about Helium, a magical place in the sky where people go when they die, a place far more wonderful than heaven. As Alfred’s condition worsens, the line between Enzo’s stories and reality begins to blur.
Editorial Perspective
Anders Walter’s Helium walks a razor’s edge between sentiment and sentimentality — and stays on the right side. The key is Enzo’s character: he’s not a saint or a wise fool, just a lonely man who recognizes a lonely child. The film’s visual rendering of Helium itself — all golden light and floating ships — is genuinely beautiful without becoming saccharine, and the final scene achieves an ambiguity that respects both belief and doubt.
Where to Watch
Available on Vimeo and select streaming platforms. Part of the 2014 Oscar-nominated shorts compilation.
Historical data reconstructed from archive.org snapshots of the Manhattan Short Film Festival website.
