Veronika Decides to Die
Veronika decides to die is a 2009 drama film directed by
Emily Young and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jonathan Tucker, Melissa Leo,
David Thewlis and Erika Christensen, adapted from the novel of the same name by
Paulo Coelho.
The setting of the movie is New York instead of the
original location of the novel in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Directed by Emily Young
Produced by Sriram Das
Written by Paulo Coelho (book),Larry Gross
Based on Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho
Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar,Jonathan Tucker,Erika Christensen,Melissa Leo,David Thewlis
Narrated by Sarah Michelle Gellar
Music by Murray Gold
Distributed by First Look International Entertainment One Films
Release dates August 21, 2009 (Brazil)
January 20, 2015 (United States)
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1,369,647 (foreign)
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Story of
Although living what looks like a successful life, Veronika (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is depressed and cannot find meaning in her existence. Intending suicide, she takes an overdose, blaming her attempted suicide on the failure of the world to recognize what is "real". She wakes inside an exclusive and expensive mental asylum only to learn that the overdose has left her prone to an aneurysm that will kill her in a matter of weeks.
In spite of herself and in spite of her disappointment with her materialistic life, Veronika finds renewed purpose through playing the asylum's piano and through observing and then connecting with the schizophrenic Edward (Jonathan Tucker). Not only does she recover her own will to live, Veronika helps Edward come out of his catatonic state, and the pair are soon released from the asylum together, determined to enjoy Veronika's final days as a couple.
Veronika does not know that her aneurysm is the invention of her unorthodox psychiatrist (David Thewlis), who is testing his theory that convincing her she has only weeks to live will restore her to health and cure her desire to commit suicide. He explains his treatment through letter to his estranged wife, a colleague from the asylum. Most people who attempt suicide repeat their attempts until successful. As long as she does not know the truth, he theorizes, she will consider each day as if it might be her last and thus treasure it. This is, he notes, actually true, as nobody knows when their end will come.
When Veronika drifts off one morning on a bench at sunrise, Edward believes he has lost her, but his grief transforms to joy when she wakes. Celebrating what they believe might be one more day, the pair embrace and walk happily on the beach in the morning light, laughing and hold hands
Cast by
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Veronika
Jonathan Tucker as Edward
Erika Christensen as Claire
Melissa Leo as Mari
David Thewlis as Dr. Blake
Adrian Martinez as Male Nurse
