Review of Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002) by Quiet N — 06 Oct 2004

[b]Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself.

[/b]I hired out Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself today. It's quite a good movie. Infact it's great.

[i] Danish director Lone Scherfig presents her second Dogme-style film, following her sweet and subtly brilliant ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, with this English-language drama set in Glasgow, Scotland. The charmingly dilapidated used bookstore where most of the film takes place creates an atmosphere of comforting humility. However, the plot stands in direct contrast to that, laying a depressing blanket of helplessness over the generally likeable, attractive characters. Wilbur (Jamie Sives) does not really want to kill himself but he keeps his older brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins) very busy trying to prevent his disingenuous suicide attempts. When Wilbur is rejected by the therapists at the counseling center, Harbour accepts him as a roommate, taking on the responsibility of preserving his brother's life. Wilbur's perpetual foul mood and misanthropy permeate Harbour's otherwise kind and hopeful persona. He even manages to ruin Harbour's wedding to a needy single mother (Shirley Henderson). To the extent that suicidal tendencies carry a certain irony, WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF has its funny moments. Even so, its truest strength is its fantastically emotive performances, and Scherfig's ability to make even the simplest gesture have a pronounced and weighty impact.

[/i]It got a bit "too" much towards the end. Not a lot happened. It was better before Harbour got sick[i].

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