Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002)

86% of critics liked it
(78 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(5,018 ratings)

Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, the writer and director of the 12th Dogme 95 film, 2000's critically acclaimed Italian for Beginners, presents this comedy drama starring Jamie Sives and Adrian Rawlins as brothers Wilbur and Harbour. When their mother died early in their lives, it became up to… More Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig, the writer and director of the 12th Dogme 95 film, 2000's critically acclaimed Italian for Beginners, presents this comedy drama starring Jamie Sives and Adrian Rawlins as brothers Wilbur and Harbour. When their mother died early in their lives, it became up to Harbour to keep tabs on Wilbur, the younger and chronically depressed of the two siblings. Now in their thirties, their father has passed away, leaving them to take over the family's used book store. It is there that they encounter Alice (Shirley Henderson), a hospital janitor who sells the books that patients leave behind, and her young, optimistic daughter, Mary (Lisa McKinlay). Together, the four form a bond that changes each of their lives, with Harbour falling in love with Alice and Mary's sunny demeanor giving the suicidal Wilbur a reason to live. The first English-language effort from Scherfig, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself was nominated for best film at Denmark's 2003 Bodil Awards. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Lone Scherfig
Written By: Anders Thomas Jensen, Lone Scherfig
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 12, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Dec 28, 2004
Studio: ThinkFilm Inc

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Pretty enjoyable.
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wilbur has the ability to suck you in, to make you cheer on the strangest of indulgent families.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
This is one special movie.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Worth seeing.
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
Though Scherfig is still partially enrolled in the Dogme school, her movie finds a happy balance with its equally adept eye for wide-screen composition and the raw complexity of real human emotion.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Here is a movie that appeals to the heart while not insulting the mind or forgetting how delightful its characters are.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...the kind of picture one is more inclined to admire than embrace
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
Lone Scherfig has masterfully combined rather dark, serious topics with a little humor and a lot of humanity.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Scherfig presents the message with a creative flair that will appeal to indie film lovers who appreciate well drawn characters
Duane Dudek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Feels schematic, contrived and less genuine.
Matt Kelemen, Las Vegas CityLife
Wilbur is less about adherence to cinematic restrictions than it is about characters, and Scherfig was able to coax subtle, comic performances from her actors.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Although at times too low-key, Wilbur is a humorous and strangely uplifting film about death and dying.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
More plainly dreary than morosely captivating... a movie that seems rather irresolute about exactly what sort of feelings it's hypothetically meant to be conjuring up.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It's certain parts of the film that I enjoy rather than the film as a whole.
, Orlando Weekly
You may laugh, but you won't always like yourself for it.
David N. Butterworth, Movie Boeuf
Amid the bloody pulp that is cinema this season, the director of Italian for Beginners offers a fresh look at the old death wish.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

Mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, very original story and well cast (even Shirley Henderson is very good here. Not nearly as "screetchy" as normal - I am sure she puts that voice on!), also quite funny in a dark way thanks to Julia Davis (I can never take her… More
Mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, very original story and well cast (even Shirley Henderson is very good here. Not nearly as "screetchy" as normal - I am sure she puts that voice on!), also quite funny in a dark way thanks to Julia Davis (I can never take her seriously. I just see Jill from NIghty Night whenever I see her!). There was just something about the story itself that didn't sit quite right with me. It seemed horrible for Wilbur and Alice to be carrying on behind Harbour's back, and then the final scene seemed disrespectful to Harbour. I don't want to spell it all out and ruin it for those who have not seen this, but those who have will know what I mean. Perhaps I am missing the point, I am not sure...
Anthony L

There is something very disjointed about Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself. It almost feels as if it is in a timeless no mans land, void of any distractions or indeed the outside world. Maybe that's why it works so well. The Danes don't half make some great films, Lone Scherfig… More
There is something very disjointed about Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself. It almost feels as if it is in a timeless no mans land, void of any distractions or indeed the outside world. Maybe that's why it works so well. The Danes don't half make some great films, Lone Scherfig ticks all the boxes a director should as far as I'm concerned, always giving us something new but never breaking free from the confinements of reality. The acting is good, particularly from Adrian Rawlins who really plays his part as the 'glue' of the story well. I'm always a bit weary of sensationalist titles but don't let it put you off, this is a great little film.
Daniel P

One of the most bizarre films I have ever seen. Not that it's surreal per se, just... very odd. It's touching, well acted, nicely scored, but it's also all over the place and if there was a point to be made - and it felt like there shold be - I didn't get it.… More
One of the most bizarre films I have ever seen. Not that it's surreal per se, just... very odd. It's touching, well acted, nicely scored, but it's also all over the place and if there was a point to be made - and it felt like there shold be - I didn't get it. Unless it's that suicide is bad.