Review of Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002) by Silke B — 21 Jun 2011

Wilbur (Jamie Sives) wants to kill himself, but fails everytime he tries to. He always ends up being rescued, joining his suicidal support group hosted by the extraordinary Dr. Horst (Mads Mikkelsen). Luckily Wilbur is a cynical misanthrope and fits into this group very well. Until the rest of the group throws him out.

To be under protection, Wilbur moves in with his brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins). Their father passed away and now Harbour runs the family business. A bookshop. And what a bookshop they have! The kind of bookshop I'd like to live in for a year or two.

Harbour meets Alice (Shirley Henderson), who works as a cleaningwoman in a hospital. They soon become a couple and live a fairly happy life together. Still rescuing Wilbur from killing himself. But then something unexpected happens and Harbour sickens from a serious disease. Wilbur suddenly is not the one everyone worries about anymore.

Wilbur: Does "Horst" mean sausage in German?

Dr. Horst: No, but you are close.

Wilbur: Are you somehow related to the "Man They Call Horst"?

Dr. Horst: Yes, I believe so. On my mother's side.

Harbour: What's it like, being dead?

Wilbur: It's dull as dishwater. It's silent and completely dark... it's like being in Wales.