Dear Wendy (2005)

A young boy in a nameless, timeless American town establishes a gang of youthful misfits united in their love of guns and their code of honor.

Director:

Thomas Vinterberg

Writer:

Lars von Trier

Stars:

Jamie Bell, Alison Pill, Chris Owen

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jamie Bell	...	Dick Dandelion
Bill Pullman	...	Krugsby
Michael Angarano	...	Freddie
Danso Gordon	...	Sebastian
Novella Nelson	...	Clarabelle
Chris Owen	...	Huey
Alison Pill	...	Susan
Mark Webber	...	Stevie
Trevor Cooper	...	Dick's Dad
Matthew Géczy	...	Young Officer
William Hootkins	...	Marshall Walker
Teddy Kempner	...	Mr. Salomon
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Customer

Storyline

DEAR WENDY is a story about the young loner Dick who lives in the poor mining town of Estherslope. When he happens upon a small handgun one day, he finds himself strangely drawn to it, despite his fervent pacifist views. Together with his newfound partner he soon convinces the other young outcasts in the town to join him in a secret club he calls The Dandies. A club based on the principals of pacifism and guns. Despite their firm belief in the most important Dandy rule of all - never draw your weapons - they soon find themselves in a predicament where they realise that rules are made to be broken.

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Plot Keywords:

pacifist | morgue | sword | ferris wheel | hoist | 

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Taglines:

One shot is all it takes.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both director Thomas Vinterberg and screenwriter Lars von Trier state that there is no hidden meaning or message against weapons in the film, and that the story is not meant as a political allegory against guns or America.

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Quotes

Dick Dandelion: The Regulations are, that the most important thing for a Dandy is never to show off his partner, whatever the provocation. We carry them as moral supports. And that's the most important thing. They may be carried, but never brandished. That would be the worst thing of all.
[contiunes as voice-over narrative]
Dick Dandelion: Not one of us were in doubt about the most important thing of all. The reason why our partners could only be fired in the darkness of the old mine and could never be exposed to full light and...

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Connections

References Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)

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Soundtracks

She's Not There
Written and Performed by The Zombies
Zombies Heaven, "Begin Here & Singles" (c)
Courtesy of Marquis Enterprises

User Reviews

Criticism maybe, hardly anti-American.

I liked "Dear Wendy". It was well photographed, had good cast and the rocking soundtrack provided the light icing on a film that is both sad and happy from the inside.

It is a bit puzzling that this film has been seen as anti-American propaganda. It does criticise the American values - but so do many American films that are hardly described as anti-American. The message is even softened by placing the film in surreal, small mining town that is so detached geographically that you can almost feel the fiction. In some sense it bears resemblance to the village set on Brechtian stage in "Dogville" (compare for example the "stageness" of main street) by Lars von Trier, whose touch can be seen in "Dear Wendy", too.

It can be also seen as an anti-gun lecture - but that is just one perspective to it and in my opinion also possible to ignore.

The only turnoff is the somewhat annoying narration by the main character, that explains too much and leaves less for the viewer to ponder. I might be also giving one star too much, because the end scene, where the film picks up the pace left such a strong impression on me, and not just because of being so well shot action.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Spain]

Country:

Denmark France Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 2005 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Dear Wendy

Filming Locations:

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DKK50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,222, 25 September 2005

Gross USA:

$23,106

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$607,229

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lucky Punch, Nimbus Film Productions, Zentropa Entertainments

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min 102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1