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Oct-Dec 2010 Screenings
Wilbur
(Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself)
2002 - Lone Scherfig - 109 - Denmark / UK / Norway / France
Fri 3 Dec 2004 at 8.30pm
Astor Cinema, Scariff
Storyline: Even though broodingly handsome Wilbur is almost irresistible to women, and in fact universally adored, he attempts suicide on such a regular basis that the members of his therapy group vote him out for being too discouraging to their progress. His brother, Harbour, is an incurable optimist and attempts to provide his brother with happiness and purpose. The lives of these two 30-something siblings, who own a dilapidated bookstore bequeathed by their recently deceased father, are transformed when Alice, a shy, single mother enters their lives. Alice's 11-year-old daughter, Mary, begins avidly reading the bookstore's extensive stock, while she begins to break out of her emotional exile. Wilbur, meanwhile, regains his zest for life, and his brother never seemed happier, however, a secret lurks inside Harbour that threatens to shatter the new found peace.
Lone Scherfig (born Copenhagen, 1959) studied film at the Sorbonne, Copenhagen University and the Danish National Film School She has directed commercials, documentaries and is a veteran of Danish television. Her feature film debut The Birthday Trip (Kajs fødselsdag) 1990 was selected for Berlin’s Panorama section. Her second feature On Our Own (Når mor kommerkjem) 1998 won many festival prizes. Italian For Beginners, was an overwhelming success with critics and national audiences.
“The new film by the Danish director Lone Scherfig, which begins with a suicide attempt and ends in a graveyard, makes you glad to be alive.' - A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“This quirky little movie's more charming than morbid, more funny than sad.' - Jamie Russell, BBC
Verdicts from the Midnight Court