Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself) [DVD] [2003]

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

The chronically suicidal Wilbur (Jamie Sives - Glasgow Kiss) and his brother, Harbour (Adrian Rawlins - Breaking The Waves) inherit a second-hand bookshop in Glasgow when their father dies. Wilbur survives yet another suicide attempt and goes into hospital, where he meets Horst (Mads Mikkelsen - Open Hearts), a clinical psychologist and his empathetic head nurse, Moira (Julia Davis - Big Train). Like Harbour, they believe that Wilbur needs a girlfriend. But even though women fall for Wilbur all the time they can’t get close to him. In fact, it is Harbour who falls in love with a shy and beautiful single mother, Alice (Shirley Henderson - Bridget Jones’ Diary). Soon Alice and her young daughter move into the bookshop and little by little the four of them become inseparable. Wilbur starts regaining his lust for life and Alice starts to come out of her shell. Harbour has never been happier, but he carries a deep secret that threatens to surface.

"Wonderfully melancholic, left-field comedy. Outstanding!"

"A film with real heart and soul"

"Meaningful, moving and one of the most wonderfully life-affirming films you’ll see"