- Actors: Jamie Sives, Adrian Rawlins, Shirley Henderson, Lisa McKinlay, Mads Mikkelsen
- Directors: Lone Scherfig
- Writers: Lone Scherfig, Anders Thomas Jensen
- Producers: Gillian Berrie, Ib Tardini, Karen Bentzon, Peter Aalbęk Jensen, Sara Harkins
- Format: PAL, Widescreen
- Language English
- Subtitles: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Nordisk
- DVD Release Date: 23 July 2003
- Run Time: 104 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000E8RF42
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 230,640 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
That rare thing, decency, shines out of Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself), a wonderful and dark-humored comedy about a would-be suicide. The depressive Wilbur (Jamie Sives) is the opposite of his big-hearted brother, Harbour (Adrian Rawlins), yet he remains irresistible to women--including Harbour's new live-in girlfriend.
Director Lone Scherfig uses the grey-skied Edinburgh location in much the same way she did her native Denmark in the terrific Italian for Beginners; the gloomy setting belies the vaguely magical things that might happen to the characters. Scherfig knows just how to balance different tones (and in a comedy about a suicidal man, she has to), and she's great with actors, even in small roles. Special standouts here are the beaming Rawlins and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (King Arthur), as a stoical, chain-smoking doctor. How nice it is to see a movie that makes you feel good without coming on all icky about it. --Robert Horton
Product Description
Sweden released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Dolby Surround ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN, SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Biographies, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Posters, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: 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.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, ...Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, ...Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A friend lent this movie and it hung around for a while before we got around to watching it, the title is not very encouraging. But it is a great, understated and thoughtful movie about ordinary (sort of) people showing extra-ordinary friendship. What Habour does for Wilbur remains with you long after the movie finishes.
Watch it, listen to the words and be rewarded.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I believe the title of this film puts a lot of people off, but the film is really a great black comedy with a splash of added romance. A great Scottish cast put in some fine performances to portray the lives of brothers Wilbur (compulsively suicidal but witty) and Harbour (the older, reliable one) who are left to run their father's Glasgow bookshop when he dies. Add love interest Alice and things get quite interesting as a love triange develops. This film takes an alternative, dark and witty look at the tough topic of suicide but never gets depressing and there are many laugh-out loud moments interspersed to keep the mood light. The film was shown at the 57th Edinburgh International Film Festival and after watching it I tried to convince everyone I know to go and see it! Fans of black comedy will not be disappointed.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If I told you this film was about 2 lonely brothers who live above a run down book shop they inherited from their father, one of whom keeps attempting suicide, and the other who tries to keep him alive, would you want to see it? I probably wouldn't either, but one of my friends persuaded me to join him at Kino (a film club at the local University) that shows the type of films that appear relatively infrequently at the local multiplexes. And I was glad he did. Understated acting from all the cast and wonderful observations made the characters worth caring about, and despite the picture of doom and gloom I painted, there's a wonderful wit that runs through this poignant tale.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A lovely film, despite the subject matter
I enjoyed this film, recommended to me by a Scottish friend. I had already watched, 'Dear Frankie' so
suspected this would be of that ilk. Read more
suspected this would be of that ilk. Read more
Published 9 months ago by jane austen
Wonderful dark humour
This is a fun film. The subject matter is dark but witty; the budget was obviously small and so the production focuses on telling a simple story and doing so well. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2009 by Graham Fairclough
wilbur wants to kill himself
To be honest, I choose this dvd because of Mads MIkkelsen, 'cause he is one of my favorite european actors.. Though I haven't regret it at all. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2009 by camil petrescu
Comic & touching.
I live in Glasgow and that bias could well account for one star of this review. I've seen this film twice now with a five year gap and have found it darkly comic and touching in... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by James Hutton
Odd...
Christ! At time this film can be horribly depressing....but is pebble-dashed with get moments of comedy (especially the scene in the restaurant)just as some bad news has been... Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2008 by godzilla78
An emotionally complex, poignantly subdued, captivating film
Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself) is an emotionally complex film that is, I suspect, subject to a wide range of reactions. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2006 by Daniel Jolley
Brothers
Wilbur (a wry, sad Jamie Sives) wants out of Life in a bad way and he tries several ways to accomplish his goal: pills, head in oven, slit wrists but he never quite succeeds often... Read more
Published on 24 May 2006 by MICHAEL ACUNA
Beautiful
Set in Glasgow, Wilbur is a beautiful film about love and death. Wilbur is being treated for the depression that has resulted in numerous failed suicide attempts, but despite the... Read more
Published on 17 April 2006 by David Welsh
"You'll treat her just right for me, won't you?"
Wilber Wants to Kill Himself opens with the troubled and disturbed title character Wilber (the hunky Jamie Sives), trying to gas himself in his kitchen. Read more
Published on 27 May 2005 by M. J Leonard
Julie Davies smells like rainbows
Enjoyable film, but the USP is definitely Julie Davies, she stole every scene she was in, her comic timing and delivery is second to none.
Published on 19 May 2005
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