Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002)
There are times when I would lay on my bed, and wonder just how much I love my parents and my elder brother. Until I have a family of my own, I can’t even imagine anyone else even approach how important they are to me ultimately. Sure — I argue, fight, dismiss, and ignore most of their banters and requests at times, but when push comes to shove - I firmly believe I’ll do anything for them. In Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, director Lone Scherfig made a movie exploring based on the bond between brothers.
Wilbur (Jamie Sives) doesn’t want to live any longer and he is thinking up ways to to kill himself every single moment. He is trying so hard, that suicidal support group don’t want to see him anymore and the psychologist doesn’t know what to do with him. The only person stopping these banal suicidal attempts, is Harbour (Adrian Rawlins), the elder brother. Is Wilbur actually wanting to die? Or just crying for attention? Whichever it is, Harbour doesn’t really question and rescues Wilbur the best he knows how — with love and 911 on speed dial.
I won’t ruin the movie anymore than this (unless you click on more). The only problem with the movie is my inability to comprehend quite a bit of the spoken dialogue. The Scottish accent really threw me off, and without subtitles to help, all the subcontextual information were lost on me. But with excellent acting, good script, and a strong story that I can identify with, I highly recommend this film.
After Wilbur’s elaborate attempt at suicide in the beginning of the film, he moved in with Harbour. To change the dynamic of Wilbur’s mundane and suicidal lifestyle, Harbour tried to help his little brother find a decent girl. When Alice stepped into their life, I’m not certain if Harbour really found love with Alice, or used her as a vehicle to demonstrate how a family could be rebuilt. Whatever the case, Harbour failed. On the night of Harbour and Alice’s marriage, Wilbur attempted suicide again.
The background story is rather sad - but it’s a very good reason why Harbour didn’t stick Wilbur into an asylum. Their mother doted on Wilbur, but with her sickly constitution, she started dying when Wilbur was but 5. Even though his mother was deathly ill, she would frequently escape from the hospital to visit Wilbur at home. One day, Wilbur overheard his father saying these trips are going to kill her one day. On a particularly cold night, Wilbur’s mother came to visit again, but Wilbur didn’t let her in to the house, firmly believing that if he lets his mother in, she’d die. She froze to death outside the house.
In any case, Alice became more than fond of Wilbur due to his extreme sexiness and Wilbur also found Alice to be quite charming. Harbour became deathly ill with pancreatic cancer, and the news devastated them all. The story shifted drastically here, that instead of Wilbur’s death by suicide, Harbour might be the first to go due to illness. With Harbour in the hospital for chemotherapy, Wilbur and Alice became more attached to one another. Ultimately, Harbour gave up his work, his love, and his life — all to his little brother. And he gave it all up, with a smile.
It’s really a sad story in regards to Harbour. Though he is the nicest, most deserving of the two brothers - he cared only for Wilbur to find a reason to be happy again. The movie is really touching, and would even more poignant, had I the ability to comprehend more Scottish accented English.