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Jamie Sives,
Jamie Sives,
Adrian Rawlins,
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Lone Scherfig,
Lone Scherfig
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: Showtime Entertainment
: Foreign, Black Comedy, Scandinavia, UK
: 105 min.
: English
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Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, the writer and director of the 12th Dogme 95 film, 2000's critically acclaimed Italian for Beginners, presents this comedy drama starring Jamie Sives and Adrian Rawlins as brothers Wilbur and Harbour. When their mother died early in their lives, it became up to Harbour to keep tabs on Wilbur, the younger and chronically depressed of the two siblings. Now in their thirties, their father has passed away, leaving them to take over the family's used book store. It is there that they encounter Alice (Shirley Henderson), a hospital janitor who sells the books that patients leave behind, and her young, optimistic daughter, Mary (Lisa McKinlay). Together, the four form a bond that changes each of their lives, with Harbour falling in love with Alice and Mary's sunny demeanor giving the suicidal Wilbur a reason to live. The first English-language effort from Scherfig, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself was nominated for best film at Denmark's 2003 Bodil Awards. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
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| Love and Death, Danish/Scottish Style
by talltale
November 23, 2004 - 12:52 PM PST
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| Well, well. Here's a happy marriage: the first Danish-Scottish co-production (that I know of), and it works like a charm. Directed, written, edited, composed (and more) by Danes, but acted by Scots and set in Scotland, WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF is a drama/comedy/romance about love and death. If there is a gloomier place than Scotland, the movies have not found one, which is entirely appropriate to this unusual film. From its first moment, as a thin white horizontal line appears on the screen to elegantly, but playfully, house the credits, this movie uses tact, charm and understatement to score its points. Threatening to become unbearably sentimental (given the stormy story), it holds a steady course and thanks to a sterling cast and director Lone Scherfig ("Italian for Beginners") arrives home a winner. Don't turn it off as the credits roll; instead, relax and listen to the lovely and original musical score. It's been there all along, but now, with no story to follow, you can better appreciate what an extremely talented composer has accomplished. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.71)
45 Votes
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