Watch Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself is a heartfelt, bittersweet tale about finding hope in the darkest of places. Directed by Lone Scherfig, this 2002 film follows the journey of two brothers, Wilbur (Jamie Sives) and Harbour (Adrian Rawlins), as they navigate life after the death of their father. At the outset of the film, Wilbur is a suicidal man who has attempted to take his own life multiple times. Harbour, worried about his brother's well-being, suggests that they start a bookshop together in their hometown of Glasgow, Scotland. Despite initial reluctance, Wilbur agrees to the idea and the brothers set about transforming an abandoned building into a cozy bookstore.

As the bookstore begins to take shape, the brothers' lives become entwined with those of the quirky and endearing characters who live and work in the surrounding neighborhood. Alice (Shirley Henderson), a single mother who cleans their shop, forms a close bond with Wilbur and Harbour, and her young daughter Mary (Lisa McKinlay) soon becomes a fixture in the store.

Despite the sense of community and purpose that the bookstore brings to their lives, Wilbur's depression continues to weigh heavily on him. His relationship with Alice, which at first seems like it could be a saving grace, becomes complicated by his self-destructive tendencies. As the film reaches its climax, Wilbur's desire to end his life threatens to unravel all that he has worked so hard to build.

What sets Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself apart from other films about mental health is its refusal to fall into predictable or easy narrative tropes. While the film takes a candid look at the struggles faced by those who live with depression, it never veers into saccharine or preachy territory. Instead, it presents a nuanced, honest portrayal of the complexities of mental illness, and the ways in which it can both isolate and bring people together.

One particularly resonant aspect of the film is the exploration of the relationship between Wilbur and Harbour. The dynamic between the two brothers is a fascinating one, with Harbour serving as both caregiver and enabler to his troubled sibling. Rawlins brings a quiet gravitas to his role, while Sives delivers a heartrending performance as a man struggling to find meaning in a world that often feels meaningless.

The supporting cast of Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself is also noteworthy. Henderson imbues Alice with a warmth and vulnerability that makes her a captivating presence onscreen. Meanwhile, Mads Mikkelsen (who would later become an international star with his role in TV's Hannibal) delivers a memorable turn as a doctor who has a fiery romance with Alice.

The film's cinematography is also something to behold. Scherfig, who would later go on to direct acclaimed films such as An Education and One Day, captures the streets of Glasgow in all their dreary beauty. The city becomes a character in and of itself, with its towering industrial buildings and rain-soaked streets providing a moody backdrop for the characters' struggles.

In the end, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself is a film about the power of human connection. It explores themes of love, loss, and redemption with a sensitivity and grace that feels rare in movies about mental illness. Through its portrayal of a community of misfits who find solace in one another's company, the film offers a glimmer of hope in an often bleak world.

Overall, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself is a beautifully rendered, emotionally resonant film that deserves to be better known. It's a testament to the power of cinema to bring difficult subjects to light with empathy and compassion.