If you can get hold of this film it is well worth a look. Set in Scotland and telling the tale of a suicidal man whose life changes when he falls in love with single mother Shirley Henderson, it is both witty and sad in just the right measure. The love interest between the two leading characters is not straight forward and it is upon this dilemma that the film's plot revolves. Carefully directed, it never crosses the line into outright sentimentality although it does come dangerously close. Shirley Henderson is wonderful, as usual, but there are also strong performances from Jamie Sives and Adrian Rawlins. It is a low-key movie but a touching one that proves movies don't have to be violent, fast moving or steamy to entertain. Particularly suitable for lovers of kitchen sink romance.
54 Reviews
A very different love story
shecrab1 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Wilbur, who is seemingly unreasonably yet persistently suicidal, cannot live with himself. Harbour, his caring and gentle brother, can't live without Wilbur. The deaths of their parents has affected both brothers differently, making one unable to live normally, and the other unable to live without the abnormality of having someone to care for. Into this dysfunction comes Alice, a struggling single parent who has a sad sweetness that Harbour cannot resist. They woo, and marry, and as their happiness begins to infuse the lives of all four, a family begins to take shape, despite the resistance that each feels. It is from the quadrangle they form that Wilbur finally finds what is missing in his own life, and wants what his brother has so easily grasped: that love, in the forms and shapes around us, is all that will eventually make life worth living. So enlightened, he unwittingly grabs hold of his brother's love, and takes some for his own; Alice, though guilty, is not unwilling. She has fallen in love with both brothers, equally, but differently. Her daughter, somewhat underplayed, becomes a pivot around which the three focus their energies, trying desperately not to hurt each other anymore than will be absolutely necessary. A bit of deus ex machina takes over (or perhaps it is simply fate stepping in?) and Harbour must bow out due to incurable cancer of the pancreas. It's hard to watch both the despair, as well as hope, rising in both Wilbur's and Alice's eyes as they find out what the ultimate conclusion will be; and they struggle with both their guilt and their excitement. But Alice does not waiver in her love for Harbour, and even though they /can/ hurt him, neither she nor Wilbur is willing to go that far. What will become of Wilbur and Alice and the child? It is not obvious. It hurts to watch the transitions each makes in their thought processes at times, but would any of us have done any differently? Still, there is satisfaction in the ending and one is left with the aftertaste of something larger than oneself probably knowing more and better than we do. Though the story can be a bit contrived, it is worth watching. We aren't brought to tears by the poignancy, nor are we appalled by the actions of the characters; we are simply aware that they are human,and fallible. That's enough sometimes.
Original But Not A Black Comedy!
blosmoker3 January 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Wilbur wants to kill himself is about a twenty something scotsman, whose main objective in life is to end it. Ironically, being extremely appealing to the opposite sex doesnt help much either.
I went to see this film in my local cinema where it described the film as the 'blackest of black comedies'. It is understandable that that there are a few comical incidents regarding suicide, but to call it the 'blackest of black comedies' is an overstatement. I really enjoyed the film; the music was very fitting to the flow of it and the characters were very well developed. The setting also made it very enjoyable (the bookshop), possibly because one of my favourite characters (the kipling fanatic) only appeared in this location. The plot however i thought turned very sharply from one direction to another (wilburs suicidal tendencies to his relationship with his brothers wife, and then the end scene).
Overall I thought the film had a very original idea and was very enjoyable, and i would definitely see it again. Just remember that if you decide to see it to keep an open mind.
7 out of 10
I went to see this film in my local cinema where it described the film as the 'blackest of black comedies'. It is understandable that that there are a few comical incidents regarding suicide, but to call it the 'blackest of black comedies' is an overstatement. I really enjoyed the film; the music was very fitting to the flow of it and the characters were very well developed. The setting also made it very enjoyable (the bookshop), possibly because one of my favourite characters (the kipling fanatic) only appeared in this location. The plot however i thought turned very sharply from one direction to another (wilburs suicidal tendencies to his relationship with his brothers wife, and then the end scene).
Overall I thought the film had a very original idea and was very enjoyable, and i would definitely see it again. Just remember that if you decide to see it to keep an open mind.
7 out of 10
Poignant
motheronthebus3 January 2007
I liked this film but I would've liked it much more if the dialog had been kicked up a few decibels and the musical score had been nearly killed off. I watched on DVD, so fortunately, I had the option of pressing hard on volume up during the dialog and pressing hard and fast on volume down and sometimes even mute during the music. Not that the score was distasteful at all, in fact, I thought it was good and very appropriate for the film. It was just that the volume itself was inappropriate. Perhaps the sound editor was afraid moviegoers would drift off asleep and s/he felt it dutiful to blast the sound out to ensure viewers wakeful alertness. At any rate, movie-good, sound editing-bad, very bad.
highly unusual comedy
Buddy-5111 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
In "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself," a young man - who basically lives from one unsuccessful suicide attempt to another - is looked after and cared for by his brother who is suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer. Moreover, it turns out that the mentally ill brother has designs on the physically ill brother's wife.
It may be hard to believe from that synopsis, but "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" is actually a comedy.
Indeed, "Wilbur," filled as it is with quirky characters and offbeat humor, is reminiscent of other well known Scottish comedies such as "Local Hero" and "Gregory's Girl," albeit this new film is darker and grimmer in its subject matter and theme. For in addition to death and illness, "Wilbur" also deals with the less tragic topics of adultery and unrequited love. Like the best Scottish comedies, this film provides us with a slice-of-life tale filled with ordinary, likable people who may have their weaknesses and eccentricities but who also strike chords of familiarity deep within the viewer.
There are beautiful performances by Jamie Sives as Wilbur; Adrian Rawlins as his brother, Harbour; Shirley Henderson as Harbour's's wife, Alice (who is also in love with Wilbur); Lisa McKinlay as Mary, Alice's young daughter, and an assortment of other fine actors and actresses who populate the scene.
Although the script threatens to veer off into melodrama and soap opera from time to time, the truthfulness of the writing and the honesty of the acting keep the film real and believable for most of the duration. The quiet conversations amongst the various characters, in which feelings are often hinted at and implied rather than explicitly stated, help to elevate the film above its sometimes contrived and maudlin plot. The movie ends with an ironic twist that shows that one person's death can often lead to a renewal of life for someone else. It's a fitting finale to a film in which one of the themes is the inextricable nature of human relationships, for what happens to one person happens to them all. It's a film that not everyone will surely like, but it is a treat for those in search of something a little bit offbeat and a little bit different.
It may be hard to believe from that synopsis, but "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" is actually a comedy.
Indeed, "Wilbur," filled as it is with quirky characters and offbeat humor, is reminiscent of other well known Scottish comedies such as "Local Hero" and "Gregory's Girl," albeit this new film is darker and grimmer in its subject matter and theme. For in addition to death and illness, "Wilbur" also deals with the less tragic topics of adultery and unrequited love. Like the best Scottish comedies, this film provides us with a slice-of-life tale filled with ordinary, likable people who may have their weaknesses and eccentricities but who also strike chords of familiarity deep within the viewer.
There are beautiful performances by Jamie Sives as Wilbur; Adrian Rawlins as his brother, Harbour; Shirley Henderson as Harbour's's wife, Alice (who is also in love with Wilbur); Lisa McKinlay as Mary, Alice's young daughter, and an assortment of other fine actors and actresses who populate the scene.
Although the script threatens to veer off into melodrama and soap opera from time to time, the truthfulness of the writing and the honesty of the acting keep the film real and believable for most of the duration. The quiet conversations amongst the various characters, in which feelings are often hinted at and implied rather than explicitly stated, help to elevate the film above its sometimes contrived and maudlin plot. The movie ends with an ironic twist that shows that one person's death can often lead to a renewal of life for someone else. It's a fitting finale to a film in which one of the themes is the inextricable nature of human relationships, for what happens to one person happens to them all. It's a film that not everyone will surely like, but it is a treat for those in search of something a little bit offbeat and a little bit different.
Title/Genre somewhat confusing
wainot28 April 2004
The quirky title and description in the theater as a black comedy were somewhat misleading. There is the occasional laugh, but I would not classify this as a comedy, even a black comedy, although there are elements of a black comedy within.
I will probably need to revisit this film sometime soon to see if it stands up, or even improves on a subsequent viewing. The acting is fairly good, and I think that the direction is not manipulative, which I appreciated. But, the characters were somewhat incomplete for me, and the writing good but not top-notch.
To me, the film was most interesting in the resonance of the main characters, especially that of Wilbur. Wilbur is, ostensibly, one of the more selfish characters you're likely to encounter, though I guess he has his allure to the opposite sex. It is interesting how this character just seems to grab the attention and love of all those around him, and he seems to just use and bring down everyone else. His brother, the epitome of selflessness, is not developed enough for my liking, and I could not get a true handle on Mary's character. Yet, the movie earns points for attempting to present three-dimensional characters who you care about. I rated it a "7" on this site, and thought about bunmping it to an "8".
I will probably need to revisit this film sometime soon to see if it stands up, or even improves on a subsequent viewing. The acting is fairly good, and I think that the direction is not manipulative, which I appreciated. But, the characters were somewhat incomplete for me, and the writing good but not top-notch.
To me, the film was most interesting in the resonance of the main characters, especially that of Wilbur. Wilbur is, ostensibly, one of the more selfish characters you're likely to encounter, though I guess he has his allure to the opposite sex. It is interesting how this character just seems to grab the attention and love of all those around him, and he seems to just use and bring down everyone else. His brother, the epitome of selflessness, is not developed enough for my liking, and I could not get a true handle on Mary's character. Yet, the movie earns points for attempting to present three-dimensional characters who you care about. I rated it a "7" on this site, and thought about bunmping it to an "8".
you'll be enriched
rollo-77 August 2003
Omigod. I haven't seen a film that moved me as much as this for a long time. It tells the tale of two 30-something brothers who own a dilapidated second-hand bookshop in Glasgow, and their search for different things.
The writing is effortless, but so natural and brilliant, the characters are beautifully crafted and it makes a refreshing change to see a film that is not about the location or the effects - but about the story and characters.
As for the acting - not a bad word can be said about any of the actors. The three principals (henderson, sives and rawlings) are so utterly convincing and there is so much chemistry between them all. They are backed up by two brilliant turns from Julia Davis as Moira and Mads Mikkelsen as Horst.
It may sound depressing from the title, and you may well shed a tear before the end of the movie, but I can guarantee that you will leave the cinema a wiser and more enriched person for having seen Wilbur...
The writing is effortless, but so natural and brilliant, the characters are beautifully crafted and it makes a refreshing change to see a film that is not about the location or the effects - but about the story and characters.
As for the acting - not a bad word can be said about any of the actors. The three principals (henderson, sives and rawlings) are so utterly convincing and there is so much chemistry between them all. They are backed up by two brilliant turns from Julia Davis as Moira and Mads Mikkelsen as Horst.
It may sound depressing from the title, and you may well shed a tear before the end of the movie, but I can guarantee that you will leave the cinema a wiser and more enriched person for having seen Wilbur...
Suicide? Come on!
jpschapira1 July 2005
Impressing; what the title proposes, I mean. You can't really expect anything certain with a title like that when you haven't heard about the film or its theme before. The United Kingdom has some good cinema, made with all the effort by people that, with movies like this one, get the shot they wait during their whole lives.
Lone Scherfig, a Danish director and Anders Thomas Jensen, his writing partner, have accomplished an original fable about life; love, relationships, family and, well Death. The tagline proposes: "The life he wanted to end, was just about to begin", in reference to Wilbur (Jamie Sives), who, when we first meet him, has just tried to kill himself.
"It gets more and more humiliating every time I try to do it and I fail", Wilbur tells his older brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins), as they get out of the hospital. Both of their parents died, but Wilbur suffered his mother's death. He felt it differently and his parents loved him, probably more than they loved his brother.
They are different persons. Harbour loves Wilbur and wants to take care of him. They have a bookshop and Wilbur doesn't care about t, but Harbour does. He maintains them both and tries to prevent Wilbur from achieving his only goal: end with his life.
One of the magical ideas the movie has is that it won't let that happen. With a beautifully constructed screenplay, the authors and creators put a woman in the brothers' lives; Alice (Shirley Henderson). Harbour meets her first, and tells his brother about her hair and her smile. Wilbur meets her, then, as she saves his life when he was trying to Soon, Harbour and Alice fall in love, and she moves in with them, alongside her daughter.
They all seem happy until Wilbur tries it again, so we can meet very realistic characters, as Dr. Horst (Mads Mikkelsen), a psychiatrist with a good heart that's only trying to help, and some women that like Wilbur. But Wilbur doesn't see women, at least not until his brother ends up in the hospital, and he "meets" Alice. We understand the flames of love they feel for each other because the film has made the characters sympathetic until this moment.
It's these three people story what turns around, and the performances. I'll try to catch Jamie Sives entire filmography. He is so natural and warm; with that innocent face and look that hides great acting qualities. Adrian Rawlins is very quiet but expressive at the same time, in the correct moments. He's just there as any normal people, without trying to call attention Just waiting for the moment. The familiar face of Shirley Henderson is a big surprise. Shining in a role between to men, as the only girl You got to have the presence.
It goes like this. For Harbour, it is happiness he never felt, and you can tell because of how he sounds when he says "I'm going home with my wife and daughter". He lives for them. For Alice is the place she couldn't have; a safe home and company she was missing probably.
And for Wilbur it is rediscovering a life he gave for done; it's feeling again In the wrong circumstances and place, yes, but feeling; and the only thing life ask from us is that we thank her for being in the world, because there's nothing more beautiful than being alive. Well there's probably one thing, but that's life itself.
Lone Scherfig, a Danish director and Anders Thomas Jensen, his writing partner, have accomplished an original fable about life; love, relationships, family and, well Death. The tagline proposes: "The life he wanted to end, was just about to begin", in reference to Wilbur (Jamie Sives), who, when we first meet him, has just tried to kill himself.
"It gets more and more humiliating every time I try to do it and I fail", Wilbur tells his older brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins), as they get out of the hospital. Both of their parents died, but Wilbur suffered his mother's death. He felt it differently and his parents loved him, probably more than they loved his brother.
They are different persons. Harbour loves Wilbur and wants to take care of him. They have a bookshop and Wilbur doesn't care about t, but Harbour does. He maintains them both and tries to prevent Wilbur from achieving his only goal: end with his life.
One of the magical ideas the movie has is that it won't let that happen. With a beautifully constructed screenplay, the authors and creators put a woman in the brothers' lives; Alice (Shirley Henderson). Harbour meets her first, and tells his brother about her hair and her smile. Wilbur meets her, then, as she saves his life when he was trying to Soon, Harbour and Alice fall in love, and she moves in with them, alongside her daughter.
They all seem happy until Wilbur tries it again, so we can meet very realistic characters, as Dr. Horst (Mads Mikkelsen), a psychiatrist with a good heart that's only trying to help, and some women that like Wilbur. But Wilbur doesn't see women, at least not until his brother ends up in the hospital, and he "meets" Alice. We understand the flames of love they feel for each other because the film has made the characters sympathetic until this moment.
It's these three people story what turns around, and the performances. I'll try to catch Jamie Sives entire filmography. He is so natural and warm; with that innocent face and look that hides great acting qualities. Adrian Rawlins is very quiet but expressive at the same time, in the correct moments. He's just there as any normal people, without trying to call attention Just waiting for the moment. The familiar face of Shirley Henderson is a big surprise. Shining in a role between to men, as the only girl You got to have the presence.
It goes like this. For Harbour, it is happiness he never felt, and you can tell because of how he sounds when he says "I'm going home with my wife and daughter". He lives for them. For Alice is the place she couldn't have; a safe home and company she was missing probably.
And for Wilbur it is rediscovering a life he gave for done; it's feeling again In the wrong circumstances and place, yes, but feeling; and the only thing life ask from us is that we thank her for being in the world, because there's nothing more beautiful than being alive. Well there's probably one thing, but that's life itself.
Actually, Wilbur Wants to Live
lawprof6 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
[WARNING: Some spoilers ahead]
Suicide is a serious subject and any attempt at showing it in a humorous light runs the risk of trivializing what amounts to a major public health problem. "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself," set in gloomy Glasgow, a city with a collective depression syndrome to begin with, polarizes audiences into "It's great" and "It's awful" groupings. Director Lone Scherfig handles both the city and the characters with a light hand. Moods are created by settings that reflect the unfolding drama.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) and brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins) inherited a small, dusty bookshop - shelves groaning with misplaced volumes - from their just deceased father. Wilbur has a record of self-destructive acts, some silly and others very dangerous. He's in a therapy group run by a German psychologist, Horst (Mads Mikkelseen), and a ditzy nurse who thinks husband hunting amongst the suicidal is a good option. Horst seems more enervated and down than his patients with whom he has a decidedly detached relationship.
A nurse's aide, Alice (Shirley Anderson), supplements her inadequate income by bringing books she "finds" at the hospital to the brothers' book store for a few quid. A single mom, she and her pre-teen daughter, Mary (Lisa McKinlay) share a warm relationship. Chronic lateness brings the Scots equivalent of a pink slip and Alice ends up working at the bookstore after she quickly falls in love with Harbour. Their wedding takes places in a Chinese restaurant featuring an owner whose Highland brogue is thicker than congee.
Alice agrees, indeeds almost insists, that Wilbur live with them in the cramped flat behind the store. His self-absorbed attempts at suicide continue until he seems to rebound by falling in love with his sister-in-law who returns the affection.
Oh boy, a not atypical film menage a trois with the good guy husband unaware that he's in a roiling threesome. But there's a twist. A sudden collapse in a supermarket leads to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer for Harbour spelling out a quick and deadly fate that he attempts to keep secret.
Harbour's concealment of his illness is futile and wrong but his deepening relationship with Horst becomes the foundation for the psychologist's belated but imperative need to reconnect with the reasons that brought him into clinical therapy. And we also learn that grand Kentucky bourbon is available to Glaswegians.
What follows is the relationship between four people with Mary, the child, taking on an increasingly important albeit quiet role. The store facing financial ruin, she offers her own money (apparently a trust fund from somewhere) to float the emporium.
This is a serious film about complex relationships, told non-judgmentally (which may be what has bothered some who reviewed the movie on IMDb). An excellent cast turns in credible and moving performances. Alice isn't very pretty-she certainly isn't glamorous. But she has a sensuous love of life and a deep caring for her child., Harbour loves his brother and his new wife and his almost instant bonding with Mary is believable, the realization of a long, missing need. Mary is bright, curious and vulnerable. She's dependent on the adults and is shielded from their various dilemmas and delinquencies. And Wilbur really doesn't want to die-anyone intent on suicide succeeds. He wants a life with a rewarding love. Who doesn't?
Set in Scotland, there are quite a few Scandanavians associated with the film. An alert reader of end titles will note that director Lars von Trier ("Breaking the Waves," "Dancer in the Dark" and, now, "Dogville") was a "script consultant," whatever that means.
One problem: it's time that makers of films set in working class Scots cities bite the bullet and provide subtitles. :)
9/10
Suicide is a serious subject and any attempt at showing it in a humorous light runs the risk of trivializing what amounts to a major public health problem. "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself," set in gloomy Glasgow, a city with a collective depression syndrome to begin with, polarizes audiences into "It's great" and "It's awful" groupings. Director Lone Scherfig handles both the city and the characters with a light hand. Moods are created by settings that reflect the unfolding drama.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) and brother Harbour (Adrian Rawlins) inherited a small, dusty bookshop - shelves groaning with misplaced volumes - from their just deceased father. Wilbur has a record of self-destructive acts, some silly and others very dangerous. He's in a therapy group run by a German psychologist, Horst (Mads Mikkelseen), and a ditzy nurse who thinks husband hunting amongst the suicidal is a good option. Horst seems more enervated and down than his patients with whom he has a decidedly detached relationship.
A nurse's aide, Alice (Shirley Anderson), supplements her inadequate income by bringing books she "finds" at the hospital to the brothers' book store for a few quid. A single mom, she and her pre-teen daughter, Mary (Lisa McKinlay) share a warm relationship. Chronic lateness brings the Scots equivalent of a pink slip and Alice ends up working at the bookstore after she quickly falls in love with Harbour. Their wedding takes places in a Chinese restaurant featuring an owner whose Highland brogue is thicker than congee.
Alice agrees, indeeds almost insists, that Wilbur live with them in the cramped flat behind the store. His self-absorbed attempts at suicide continue until he seems to rebound by falling in love with his sister-in-law who returns the affection.
Oh boy, a not atypical film menage a trois with the good guy husband unaware that he's in a roiling threesome. But there's a twist. A sudden collapse in a supermarket leads to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer for Harbour spelling out a quick and deadly fate that he attempts to keep secret.
Harbour's concealment of his illness is futile and wrong but his deepening relationship with Horst becomes the foundation for the psychologist's belated but imperative need to reconnect with the reasons that brought him into clinical therapy. And we also learn that grand Kentucky bourbon is available to Glaswegians.
What follows is the relationship between four people with Mary, the child, taking on an increasingly important albeit quiet role. The store facing financial ruin, she offers her own money (apparently a trust fund from somewhere) to float the emporium.
This is a serious film about complex relationships, told non-judgmentally (which may be what has bothered some who reviewed the movie on IMDb). An excellent cast turns in credible and moving performances. Alice isn't very pretty-she certainly isn't glamorous. But she has a sensuous love of life and a deep caring for her child., Harbour loves his brother and his new wife and his almost instant bonding with Mary is believable, the realization of a long, missing need. Mary is bright, curious and vulnerable. She's dependent on the adults and is shielded from their various dilemmas and delinquencies. And Wilbur really doesn't want to die-anyone intent on suicide succeeds. He wants a life with a rewarding love. Who doesn't?
Set in Scotland, there are quite a few Scandanavians associated with the film. An alert reader of end titles will note that director Lars von Trier ("Breaking the Waves," "Dancer in the Dark" and, now, "Dogville") was a "script consultant," whatever that means.
One problem: it's time that makers of films set in working class Scots cities bite the bullet and provide subtitles. :)
9/10
Give It A Fair Try
breaklikeagirl24 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
A down to earth film, very true to its Glasgow roots.
Wilbur is a suicidal 30 something, affected by loosing his mother at a young age. His suicide attempts set the scene, and it becomes apparent that they are not truly serious but are in fact his reaction to the possibility, or sad fact, of loosing others in his life whom he depends on.
It is love and responsibility that save him, as when faced with the harsh reality of loosing his brother Harbour, Wilbur is able to cope with the love of Harbour's wife and his role in her life and that of her daughter, and does not need to turn to suicide.
A talented cast, including some identifiable faces, brings home this realistic story. My only grumbles lie in the lack of location detail (but this is only because I come from the city myself, and enjoy seeing it on film. The location range does not actually adversely effect the film beyond that), and perhaps the ambivalent feeling I as a viewer had surrounding the affair between Wilbour and Alice. I like to feel hatred for those who cheat, & I really should have in this case, but all the characters are kept on an even level so it is hard to take sides. In many ways, this could be the aim of the writer, so that the viewer simply takes in the details of these people's lives without having to make decisions.
At any rate, a good film for thinkers.
Wilbur is a suicidal 30 something, affected by loosing his mother at a young age. His suicide attempts set the scene, and it becomes apparent that they are not truly serious but are in fact his reaction to the possibility, or sad fact, of loosing others in his life whom he depends on.
It is love and responsibility that save him, as when faced with the harsh reality of loosing his brother Harbour, Wilbur is able to cope with the love of Harbour's wife and his role in her life and that of her daughter, and does not need to turn to suicide.
A talented cast, including some identifiable faces, brings home this realistic story. My only grumbles lie in the lack of location detail (but this is only because I come from the city myself, and enjoy seeing it on film. The location range does not actually adversely effect the film beyond that), and perhaps the ambivalent feeling I as a viewer had surrounding the affair between Wilbour and Alice. I like to feel hatred for those who cheat, & I really should have in this case, but all the characters are kept on an even level so it is hard to take sides. In many ways, this could be the aim of the writer, so that the viewer simply takes in the details of these people's lives without having to make decisions.
At any rate, a good film for thinkers.
Didn't Quite Do It
jonny1513 March 2005
"Wilbur" is a pretty hard movie to describe. It has many redeeming qualities, but in the end, I just didn't like it and wished I hadn't seen it.
It's another quirky comedy/drama, and it fits well into that category. I thought the writing was very good, and the comedy made me laugh out loud several times. However, the movie tries to get you to connect with the characters, and for me, it was impossible to do that. Although they're all likable people, the only one who really got to me was Wilbur's brother. If you have seen or will see the film, I'm sure you'll know why.
I wanted to like this movie, and I still just couldn't. It's very funny at times, and sometimes touching, but I left the theater being more angry and repulsed than relieved and entertained.
It's close, but unfortunately, no cigar.
5/10
It's another quirky comedy/drama, and it fits well into that category. I thought the writing was very good, and the comedy made me laugh out loud several times. However, the movie tries to get you to connect with the characters, and for me, it was impossible to do that. Although they're all likable people, the only one who really got to me was Wilbur's brother. If you have seen or will see the film, I'm sure you'll know why.
I wanted to like this movie, and I still just couldn't. It's very funny at times, and sometimes touching, but I left the theater being more angry and repulsed than relieved and entertained.
It's close, but unfortunately, no cigar.
5/10
A BIG 10! -quirky,lovely,just delightful
film_ophile16 September 2005
i think sense of humor is just SUCH an individual thing. perhaps the more subtle the comedic approach, the more difficult to identify and align with. I myself found this film totally engaging, amusing and lovely. i did not know, at the time of viewing, that the director had made 3 or 4 other of my favorite films, On Our Own and Italian for Beginners being the most recent. The story itself is small but it's the screenplay and that quirky funny pervading sense of humor, that IS the film. two handsome, intelligent,gentle, interesting brothers have a deep love for each other. one is the older and responsible one, who runs the inherited family used book shop. the younger one makes a career out of trying to kill himself. a sweet sad woman- with- daughter comes into their lives and the shag rug becomes a tapestry. all the acting is spot-on. the TERRIFIC screenwriters (the director being one of the two)had me caring about all of the characters. the silences, as much as the dialogue, are perfectly carried off and i really didn't feel there was a false out-of-place moment in the entire film. i saw the film last night (thank heavens for good public-library film-buyers)and the characters are in my mind today.i've a delighted smile on my face. a big 10 for me.
Well acted but so very depressing...and please note that it is NOT a comedy.
planktonrules26 March 2014
I noticed that IMDb lists this as belonging to three genres--comedy, drama and romance. Well, this is a strange combination and the film is NOT a comedy. Folks should be aware of this, as the movie could seriously depress you and make you feel miserable when you're just looking to have a laugh.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) is a screwed up guy. Again and again and again he tries to kill himself but each time he's discovered and rushed to the hospital. It's happened so often that the support group at the hospital doesn't want him back! And, during all this, his very decent brother, Harbour (Adrian Rawlins) is there for him--and amazingly patient in spite of all this--perhaps too patient. Part of this might be because he loves Wilbur, but later you find that it might have to do with the reason Wilbur feels a need to die.
Despite all this chaos, Harbour decides to marry and he brings a woman and her young daughter into the household. What's to happen with Wilbur? And, what's to happen to everyone when Harbour learns some very, very bad news?
The acting in this film is very restrained but good. However, I cannot score the film higher because the script is so odd--starting off somewhat like a comedy and then leaving the viewer wanting to kill themselves as well! Dark, depressing and definitely a film that will only appeal to a narrow audience.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) is a screwed up guy. Again and again and again he tries to kill himself but each time he's discovered and rushed to the hospital. It's happened so often that the support group at the hospital doesn't want him back! And, during all this, his very decent brother, Harbour (Adrian Rawlins) is there for him--and amazingly patient in spite of all this--perhaps too patient. Part of this might be because he loves Wilbur, but later you find that it might have to do with the reason Wilbur feels a need to die.
Despite all this chaos, Harbour decides to marry and he brings a woman and her young daughter into the household. What's to happen with Wilbur? And, what's to happen to everyone when Harbour learns some very, very bad news?
The acting in this film is very restrained but good. However, I cannot score the film higher because the script is so odd--starting off somewhat like a comedy and then leaving the viewer wanting to kill themselves as well! Dark, depressing and definitely a film that will only appeal to a narrow audience.
Twisted, modern take on 'Harold and Maud'
sparkle-1411 September 2003
Interesting film, but this viewer was far less impressed than the Scandinavian reviewers. Performances were great overall, though some deliveries of the clumsiest lines clunked (and Henderson's babydoll voice really irritates) Some great scenes, but the black comedy is uneven (lost in translation?)/ script patchy. All that bloody backstory for Wilbur-- was Harbour meant to be justifying the selfishness of his brother or.... what? Scherfig does a wonderful job in finding the humanity of difficult, odd characters (in 'Italian for beginners' too) Wish she'd cut the stuff that didn't work because it tries to hard to be odd. And more Mikkelsen please... what he evokes in the twitch of an eyebrow-- much more impressive than all that talk. Interesting but flawed... a director to watch, however.
Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself)
jboothmillard24 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I think it being four stars, having one or two good people and the title was what persuaded me to try this film. Basically good-hearted Harbour North (Adrian Rawlins) has spent years trying to look after his motherless, recently now fatherless, and suicidal young brother Wilbur (Jamie Sives). They are inseparable and inherit their father's second-hand bookshop, and one day cleaning lady Alice (Shirley Henderson) with her daughter Mary (Lisa McKinlay) enters the shop and their lives. She helps them by selling the books patients have left behind as the hospital she works at. Harbour falls in love with Alice, and Wilbur with Mary, and soon enough all four of them are entwined, Wilbur has found a good reason to keep living, while Harbour is coming to terms with the fact he is slowly dying of an incurable condition. Also starring Casino Royale's Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Horst, Julia Davis as Moira and Susan Vidler as Sophie. Apparently this was meant to be a black comedy, well it was certainly quite dark viewing, but I didn't find myself laughing a lot, but I guess it is worth seeing, at least once. Good!
A celebration of life... and suicide
rainking_es20 December 2005
"Wilbur wants to kill himself" is a (so)moving parable about how easy is to let yourself die when everything seems meaningless and how hard is to live when a disease is mining you.
Wilbur looks like a nice guy, the kind of man women like, he's good-looking, he has a brother who loves him... it doesn't seem like his existence is that miserable. Nevertheless he wants to leave this world, that's one of men's last rights so he'll try to kill himself in any possible way. On the contrary, his brother Harbour is full of life, he's an enthusiastic person, he's in love and he's just get married... how ironic, he has an incurable cancer, but that won't stop him from clinging to life till the last consequences.
Scherfig has moved away from the stupid DOGMA corset, and creates a perfect balance between the smile and the crying, tenderness and misanthropy, between life and death. She reduces the roughness of the hardest moments with a sarcastic turn or relying on the darkest sense of humor (that's always the best antidote against tragedy). Step by step she shows Wilbur the right way (and to all of us). No moral judgments, no dogmatism... there's no need to. Wilbur is a celebration of life, but is also a show of respect for those who don't wanna live anymore. Eventually it is a celebration of the best cinema: the one that makes you feel better.
*My rate: 8.5/10
Wilbur looks like a nice guy, the kind of man women like, he's good-looking, he has a brother who loves him... it doesn't seem like his existence is that miserable. Nevertheless he wants to leave this world, that's one of men's last rights so he'll try to kill himself in any possible way. On the contrary, his brother Harbour is full of life, he's an enthusiastic person, he's in love and he's just get married... how ironic, he has an incurable cancer, but that won't stop him from clinging to life till the last consequences.
Scherfig has moved away from the stupid DOGMA corset, and creates a perfect balance between the smile and the crying, tenderness and misanthropy, between life and death. She reduces the roughness of the hardest moments with a sarcastic turn or relying on the darkest sense of humor (that's always the best antidote against tragedy). Step by step she shows Wilbur the right way (and to all of us). No moral judgments, no dogmatism... there's no need to. Wilbur is a celebration of life, but is also a show of respect for those who don't wanna live anymore. Eventually it is a celebration of the best cinema: the one that makes you feel better.
*My rate: 8.5/10
A well acted, beautiful, funny little charmer.
spfguysplace19 January 2005
This film played in a small art-house theater in Los Angeles for several weeks with little or no promotion. I'd never heard of it and wondered why it continued playing for so long. I did not go to see it then but remembered the odd title. I subsequently came across the DVD and purchased it out of curiosity. I was amply rewarded for my adventure. The film, a Danish-Scottish co-production, is a small treasure. It is funny and poignant. The acting is uniformly fine and the characters are well defined and developed. The score is excellent and is performed by the Philharmonic of London. I share the DVD with friends and family and recommend the film highly. It's a wonderful little film.
Go for the man they called Horst!
Mort-3125 January 2004
Warning: Spoilers
!!! SPOILERS AHEAD !!! SPOILERS AHEAD !!!
I like macabre and morbid humour, and I usually laugh about it because, to put it shortly, it's my opinion that life IS macabre and morbid at times.
I didn't laugh during Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, but I didn't cry either. This is the first film I considered "too macabre" because I felt the humorous touch given to extremely sad incidents in the film were forced and the scenes could have easily worked without them.
Wilbur's brother Harbour is such an unbearably miserable character that he can't be quite real. First of all, he has a very silly name. Then, his mother didn't love him as much as she loved Wilbur, his father didn't love him as much as he loved Wilbur, his stepdaughter loves Wilbur more; he has to care for Wilbur who keeps committing suicide attempts believing he is funny while simply looking like Robbie Williams and therefore being very popular; he gets cancer and kills himself (successfully!), and in the end, his widow visits his grave hand in hand with Wilbur.
I think, this is just sadistic. The actors of course, are very convincing. And there are too extraordinary jokes in the film, both involving the same character. Watch it, for Dr. Horst only!
I like macabre and morbid humour, and I usually laugh about it because, to put it shortly, it's my opinion that life IS macabre and morbid at times.
I didn't laugh during Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, but I didn't cry either. This is the first film I considered "too macabre" because I felt the humorous touch given to extremely sad incidents in the film were forced and the scenes could have easily worked without them.
Wilbur's brother Harbour is such an unbearably miserable character that he can't be quite real. First of all, he has a very silly name. Then, his mother didn't love him as much as she loved Wilbur, his father didn't love him as much as he loved Wilbur, his stepdaughter loves Wilbur more; he has to care for Wilbur who keeps committing suicide attempts believing he is funny while simply looking like Robbie Williams and therefore being very popular; he gets cancer and kills himself (successfully!), and in the end, his widow visits his grave hand in hand with Wilbur.
I think, this is just sadistic. The actors of course, are very convincing. And there are too extraordinary jokes in the film, both involving the same character. Watch it, for Dr. Horst only!
Suicide comedy
Peter Elefant20 November 2002
Synopsis:
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) wants to die, kind of. So every now and then he tries to commit suicide. You know: Pills, wrist slitting, hanging that sort of thing.
He has nothing that ties him to life, but a brother named Harbour.
The brother (Adrian Rawlins) owns a book store, which was left to him by his father. He's a friendly, charming and responsible man, who's flirting with one of two regular costumers, a girl name Alice.
Alice (Shirley Henderson) is a lonely woman, who works as cleaning personal in a hospital, in order to support her daughter Mary (Lisa McKinlay).
Well. Girl meets book store owner, and they fall in love or whatever. So they get married. Meanwhile Wilbur continues his obsession with trying to end himself. The thing about Wilbur is, that he has sex-appeal which is quite... well... appealing. And don't think that Alice hasn't noticed.
Which creates the dilemma, doesn't it? Do we want the older, responsible, nice, kind, calm brother, or his sexual beast of an opposite, Wilbur?
--------------
My review
Set in beautiful, but depressing Scotland, Lone Scherfig (The director of Dogma 8: Italiensk for begyndere) has made a small film about love. The story itself is pretty average, but the way this film treats suicide, and the absurdity of wanting to finish life, makes it worth watching. The film is made with subtle humor, tenderness and love.
Well acted this one is. I liked the characters. It is well filmed, also. Almost every scene takes place in the bed, in the bathroom, in the book store, or the hospital. All places, that cry out desperate decadence. You can actually sence death in the scenery, which is no coincidence. A major theme of this film is death and - as a direct consequence - life.
What is not so good about this film is, that it is about virtually nothing. There is almost no development, and unlike films of who are kindred in pace (Virgin Suicides, The Ice Storm) the story is way too structured, and too narrow to just watch and experience. There is a point this film is trying to make, which is a shame. A bit less narrative could have done a film, which is about so little, very good.
Still it is a good film. Very good. I am beginning to use 5 as average. 10 as perfect and 1 as complete rubbish. And giving that, I will give "Wilbur wants to die/Wilbur begår selvmord" 8. A lot of thought and care has gone into this little film, and it does show. From good cinematografy and a good script, to a well polished, melancholic score, this film is worth viewing. It won't kill you, even if you will.
8 of 10.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) wants to die, kind of. So every now and then he tries to commit suicide. You know: Pills, wrist slitting, hanging that sort of thing.
He has nothing that ties him to life, but a brother named Harbour.
The brother (Adrian Rawlins) owns a book store, which was left to him by his father. He's a friendly, charming and responsible man, who's flirting with one of two regular costumers, a girl name Alice.
Alice (Shirley Henderson) is a lonely woman, who works as cleaning personal in a hospital, in order to support her daughter Mary (Lisa McKinlay).
Well. Girl meets book store owner, and they fall in love or whatever. So they get married. Meanwhile Wilbur continues his obsession with trying to end himself. The thing about Wilbur is, that he has sex-appeal which is quite... well... appealing. And don't think that Alice hasn't noticed.
Which creates the dilemma, doesn't it? Do we want the older, responsible, nice, kind, calm brother, or his sexual beast of an opposite, Wilbur?
--------------
My review
Set in beautiful, but depressing Scotland, Lone Scherfig (The director of Dogma 8: Italiensk for begyndere) has made a small film about love. The story itself is pretty average, but the way this film treats suicide, and the absurdity of wanting to finish life, makes it worth watching. The film is made with subtle humor, tenderness and love.
Well acted this one is. I liked the characters. It is well filmed, also. Almost every scene takes place in the bed, in the bathroom, in the book store, or the hospital. All places, that cry out desperate decadence. You can actually sence death in the scenery, which is no coincidence. A major theme of this film is death and - as a direct consequence - life.
What is not so good about this film is, that it is about virtually nothing. There is almost no development, and unlike films of who are kindred in pace (Virgin Suicides, The Ice Storm) the story is way too structured, and too narrow to just watch and experience. There is a point this film is trying to make, which is a shame. A bit less narrative could have done a film, which is about so little, very good.
Still it is a good film. Very good. I am beginning to use 5 as average. 10 as perfect and 1 as complete rubbish. And giving that, I will give "Wilbur wants to die/Wilbur begår selvmord" 8. A lot of thought and care has gone into this little film, and it does show. From good cinematografy and a good script, to a well polished, melancholic score, this film is worth viewing. It won't kill you, even if you will.
8 of 10.
And by God you'll wish he had
deadmanjones2 September 2006
And by God you'll wish he had. Well received within indie circuits this is invariably described as humorous and subtle with great characterisations. God knows where people get this view from. The script contains no subtlety or finesse, giving us the bare bones of what passes for key moments in the story, and features dialogue that makes you presume it was written in a foreign language and then translated using Google. Apparently a story of teaching those who have given up on life to reclaim it, it left us with a feeling that those who reclaimed didn't deserve it and should have been left to die in the opening scene.
Is this film really depressive as its title suggests? Not at all.
ruby_fff22 May 2004
This is one helluv a title, isn't it? Why would anyone want to see a movie with a seemingly death-impending title? I remember hearing about WILBUR on cable IFC's (Independent Film Channel) "At the Angelika" film previews. It's a film in English by writer-director Lone Scherfig from Denmark. I rather enjoy her previous film "Italian for Beginners" (2000) in Danish, Italian and English. (Might want to check out her mini-bio on IMDb - quite interesting to learn about a filmmaker's background.)
"WILBUR wants to kill himself" is a small quiet film that actually has much human pathos. The three 'and a half' main leads: Harbour, the older brother who's closely protective of Wilbur, is sensitively played by Adrian Rawlins; Wilbur, the younger brother, is lively played (sounds like an oxymoron considering what the title suggests his role is) by Jamie Sives; Alice, the young woman who came into their lives, is subtly played by Shirley Henderson, and the critical 'half' being her little daughter Mary, aptly played by Lisa McKinlay - the portrayals and interplay were flawless. Didn't realize Rawlins is so talented - he was "Dr. Richardson" in Lars Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" (1996) with the tour de force pair of Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgard. (Noticed from the ending credit roll that Lars Von Trier was one of the two script consultants on this film.)
The music by Joachim Holbek complements the daringly subdued theme and tone of this unusually titled film. Well, let's not be hung up on the title. Kudos to Scherfig for being so venturesome with the story and her script. Isn't life just so - uncertain, risky, not as one might expect all the time? Cheers to the full cast and crew for their willing participation and creative energy on this filmic journey. The film's a tear-jerker - wouldn't you know it - with dashes of bemused humor (little details and vignettes like at the Chinese restaurant, at the hospital ward, or by the river, and of course, in the bookstore and in the bedroom) - it's basically about where one's heart is. The plot creeps up on you - gradually the viewer is drawn into this three and a half-some world we see on screen, caring for the characters, worrying with them, sighing with them, smiling with them, and pulling for the best possible outcomes. We want them to somehow succeed - succeed in what? Now isn't day to day living about coping with whatever comes and listening to one's heart? Grand and unattainable philosophy? Not at all. It's also being attentive to the dear persons around us, in our lives, and give a little - don't wait. Wilbur just might learn to let go of himself, think less of himself, and surrender to loving life. That just might be what the title implied, perhaps? It may not be for everyone - see for yourself. "WILBUR wants to kill himself" deservedly worth your while.
About the talented Shirley Henderson from Scotland: I've enjoyed her performance as Shirley, the wife & mother and love interest, opposite Robert Carlyle and Rhys Ifans in w-d Shane Meadows' "Once Upon a Time in the Midlands" (2002) - almost a similar menage a trois situation but less assertive than her role in "WILBUR." She's also in director John Crowley's "Intermission" (2003, script by Mark O'Rowe) - taken on, among the stellar cast, the rather offbeat yet still demure role of Sally (the script itself is plucky and unyielding alright - then again, it's probably quite 'normal' in the setting described) - another amusingly enjoyable film from Ireland if you're so gamed.
"WILBUR wants to kill himself" is a small quiet film that actually has much human pathos. The three 'and a half' main leads: Harbour, the older brother who's closely protective of Wilbur, is sensitively played by Adrian Rawlins; Wilbur, the younger brother, is lively played (sounds like an oxymoron considering what the title suggests his role is) by Jamie Sives; Alice, the young woman who came into their lives, is subtly played by Shirley Henderson, and the critical 'half' being her little daughter Mary, aptly played by Lisa McKinlay - the portrayals and interplay were flawless. Didn't realize Rawlins is so talented - he was "Dr. Richardson" in Lars Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" (1996) with the tour de force pair of Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgard. (Noticed from the ending credit roll that Lars Von Trier was one of the two script consultants on this film.)
The music by Joachim Holbek complements the daringly subdued theme and tone of this unusually titled film. Well, let's not be hung up on the title. Kudos to Scherfig for being so venturesome with the story and her script. Isn't life just so - uncertain, risky, not as one might expect all the time? Cheers to the full cast and crew for their willing participation and creative energy on this filmic journey. The film's a tear-jerker - wouldn't you know it - with dashes of bemused humor (little details and vignettes like at the Chinese restaurant, at the hospital ward, or by the river, and of course, in the bookstore and in the bedroom) - it's basically about where one's heart is. The plot creeps up on you - gradually the viewer is drawn into this three and a half-some world we see on screen, caring for the characters, worrying with them, sighing with them, smiling with them, and pulling for the best possible outcomes. We want them to somehow succeed - succeed in what? Now isn't day to day living about coping with whatever comes and listening to one's heart? Grand and unattainable philosophy? Not at all. It's also being attentive to the dear persons around us, in our lives, and give a little - don't wait. Wilbur just might learn to let go of himself, think less of himself, and surrender to loving life. That just might be what the title implied, perhaps? It may not be for everyone - see for yourself. "WILBUR wants to kill himself" deservedly worth your while.
About the talented Shirley Henderson from Scotland: I've enjoyed her performance as Shirley, the wife & mother and love interest, opposite Robert Carlyle and Rhys Ifans in w-d Shane Meadows' "Once Upon a Time in the Midlands" (2002) - almost a similar menage a trois situation but less assertive than her role in "WILBUR." She's also in director John Crowley's "Intermission" (2003, script by Mark O'Rowe) - taken on, among the stellar cast, the rather offbeat yet still demure role of Sally (the script itself is plucky and unyielding alright - then again, it's probably quite 'normal' in the setting described) - another amusingly enjoyable film from Ireland if you're so gamed.
Fade To Black
valis194928 March 2009
Although WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF is an honest and unflinching look at death and suicide, it manages to evoke overwhelming feelings of compassion and tenderness. Lone Scherfig, the director, has crafted a moving characterization of how individuals respond to the loss of love. Wilbur, played by Jamie Sives, is despondent over the the death of his parents, and he has made numerous attempts at suicide to end his pain. He and his older brother manage the family business, a ramshackle used bookstore. And, when his brother becomes romantically involved with a woman, it seems Wilbur has inadvertently stumbled upon a reason to live. At first, it seems that he is animated by his brother's good fortune, but soon he finds himself romantically drawn to, Alice, his brother's lover and wife to be. Shirley Henderson is resplendent as Alice. She authentically expresses an irresistible yet forbidden attraction to Wilbur, while simultaneously displaying deep affection for Harbour, Wilbur's brother. As the narrative becomes even more tangled, yet never contrived, we are drawn to the true heart of the film-Lone Scherfig's deft and loving examination of the characters' interactions. And throughout all of the gloom and melancholy, the film always manages a light and almost playful tone. Do not let the downbeat subject of this film put you off, WILBUR WANTS TO KILL HIMSELF is truly a heartwarming experience.
Horrid Little Film
taquinas728 March 2004
Warning: Spoilers
**WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD** Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself is postmodern nihilism at its worst. Nothing funny in this film. The characters are grotesque, self-centered, disloyal and dysfunctional. Harbour is the only likeable person; a man who gives selflessly of himself to his suicidal younger brother and everyone else in his life, only to be betrayed and scorned (even by his own parents). No one can give a reason for living to Wilbur because life is just "here" with no ultimate reason or reference to God. Harbour nevertheless tries to help Wilbur best he can. Wilbur procedes to "repay" his brother by having an affair with his wife, who claims to "love" Harbour. The affair continues even after Harbour is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When asked what a near death experience was like for Wilbur (white light?)he responds "nothing. Just blackness and silence." Lovely. Harbour, rather than try to go on fighting a almost certain death sentence from cancer, commits suicide in the hopes his brother will honor his promise to look after his wife and stepdaughter, giving Wilbur a reason to live. His grave not even cold yet, Wilbur visits hand in hand with his brother's widow and stepdaughter talking of marriage (we all know how sacred those vows are to them. Why even bother?)The movie ends at a graveyard, replete with bleak scenery that leaves you disturbed, angry for what happened to Harbour, and perhaps even wishing everyone else BUT Harbour had killed themselves. Sartre would have liked this movie, but not even one as twisted as he would dare to have labeled this trash as "comedy."
Life and death
dimmalimm3 March 2003
Wilbur is a wonderful character, he is the type your mother warned you about, but in the end he becomes the man of your dreams.. He is dangerous to a fault, yet gentle. He is scared of life, and tries as hard as he thinks possible to kill himself, but due to his will to live, he cannot finish what he started... I reccommend this movie for everyone, I enjoyed it immensely.
I went to see the movie and found myself stunned by the cinematography and the actors are notebly good.
I went to see the movie and found myself stunned by the cinematography and the actors are notebly good.
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