Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002)

Director:

Lone Scherfig

Writers:

Lone Scherfig (written by) &
Anders Thomas Jensen (written by)

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The life he wanted to end, was just about to begin

Plot:

The good-hearted Harbour has spent his whole life trying to take care of his motherless and suicidal little brother...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Hospital | Bookstore | Terminal Illness | Male Nudity

Awards:

11 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Jamie Sives	...	Wilbur
Adrian Rawlins	...	Harbour
Shirley Henderson	...	Alice
Lisa McKinlay	...	Mary
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Horst
Julia Davis	...	Moira
Susan Vidler	...	Sophie
Robert McIntosh	...	Taylor
Lorraine McIntosh	...	Ruby
Gordon Brown	...	Wayne
Mhairi Steenbock	...	Claire
Andrew Townsley	...	Doctor
Coral Preston	...	Jenny
Colin McAllister	...	Male Supervisor
Owen Gorman	...	Porter

Also Known As:

Wilbur (France) (Sweden)
Wilbur begår selvmord (Denmark)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

111 min | Denmark:105 min | USA:109 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

Denmark | UK | Sweden | France

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:13 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:MG6 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Filmbyen, Avedøre, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

One of a more or less succesfull series of foreign language film made by Danish filmmakers using Danish money, after the success of Danish language films around the world. Others include "Breaking the Waves", "Dancer in the Dark", "It's All About Love", "I'm Dina", "Dogville", "Skagerrak" and "The King Is Alive".

Quotes:

Wilbur: It's a snowbeast.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Det store lærred: Wilbur begår selvmord (2002) (TV)

you'll be enriched

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...