Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself)

Cheerfully titled, 'Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself' charts the less than stellar life of its central character (Sives). Deeply depressed and unable to fend for long without his suicidal urges returning, Wilbur's good hearted brother Harbour (Rawlins) spends most of his life trying to ensure that his sibling doesn't end this. After their father dies, the two boys inherit his second hand bookshop, which they run rather haphazardly. Things change somewhat when a customer, Alice (Henderson) visits the shop with her young daughter, Mary (McKinlay). Before long, Harbour has fallen for the mousy charms of Alice and Wilbur sees something in Mary that may make him change his attitude towards life and even death.

While 'Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself' may sound like Mike Leigh on downers, the film is a curiously buoyant experience. Stripped down and very darkly comedic, Wilbur skilfully negotiates its bleak-sounding central premise with a wealth of humour while Scherfig coaxes wonderful performances from her cast - Sives is especially good, and Henderson is one of the most unsung actresses working today. It may not be to everyone's liking but 'Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself' is certainly worth investigating.