Review of Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002) by Rachel M — 08 Jan 2005

Best in Show: Adrian Rawlins.

One for the future: James Sives.

Stand-out scene: Attempted hanging.

Brainer or no-brainer:

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?:

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

DVD.

Set in a bookshop in Glasgow, this tragicomedy from Danish director Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners) is gallows humour almost at its best. Up and coming Scottish actor James Sives is the title character, a sullen, directionless grump whose frequent attempts to end it all (portrayed with much comic effect as was the case in Harold and Maude) never come off. His brother Harbour (Stoke-born Adrian Rawlins; James Potter in the Harry Potter films) is his crutch and keeps the family afloat running the none-too-successful bookshop. Shirley Henderson plays a hospital cleaner who swipes books left lying around at her place of work and sells them to Harbour in an attempt to supplement her meagre income. When Wilbur tries to gas himself (and overdose) at the beginning of the movie he's admitted to a pyschiatric ward and there he's spotted by a nurse (the incomparable Julia Davis) who tries to woo him. Providing much of the comic relief, Davis' inclusion in the cast is a big plus. Maybe the title of the film was a mistake as i'm sure a lot of potential viewers were/are put off by its downbeat nature, although it does flag this up as a film with an emotional core, as is borne out when it's viewed. The dig at Wales (being dead is like being in Wales, apparently) wa sout of order though.