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IMDbPro

Dear Wendy

  • 2005
  • 12
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
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.
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
76 Photos
Dark ComedySatireComedyCrimeDramaRomance

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.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.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Thomas Vinterberg
    • Writer
      • Lars von Trier
    • Stars
      • Jamie Bell
      • Alison Pill
      • Chris Owen
    • 60User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 33Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Official Trailer

    Photos75

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    Top cast13

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    Jamie Bell
    Jamie Bell
    • Dick Dandelion
    Alison Pill
    Alison Pill
    • Susan
    Chris Owen
    Chris Owen
    • Huey
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Krugsby
    Michael Angarano
    Michael Angarano
    • Freddie
    Danso Gordon
    Danso Gordon
    • Sebastian
    Novella Nelson
    Novella Nelson
    • Clarabelle
    Mark Webber
    Mark Webber
    • Stevie
    Trevor Cooper
    Trevor Cooper
    • Dick's Dad
    Matthew Géczy
    Matthew Géczy
    • Young Officer
    William Hootkins
    William Hootkins
    • Marshall Walker
    Teddy Kempner
    Teddy Kempner
    • Mr. Salomon
    Thomas Bo Larsen
    Thomas Bo Larsen
    • Customer
    • Director
      • Thomas Vinterberg
    • Writer
      • Lars von Trier
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews60

    6.510.6K
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    Featured reviews

    9alexei-15

    There's a lot going on inside these characters.

    "Dear Wendy" comes from the talents that brought us "Festen" and "It's All About Love" (both written and directed by Thomas Vinteberg), "Dogville," "Dancer in the Dark" and "Breaking the Waves" (written and directed by Lars Von Trier). They have collaborated on Dear Wendy, with Vinteberg at the helm and penned by Trier.

    This is my favorite kind of movie; it begins with a "what if..." premise, which the storytellers follow with relentless commitment. In this case, the premise is "what if some misfit kids fell in love with their guns." Well, they'd give them names, they'd practice shooting and have a secret clubhouse, they'd study the famous gun-toting heroes of old, and the relationship they have with their weapons would become a mirror for their relationships with the world. All of which are pursued beautifully in the film.

    Quite a few American movie critics read this film as a critique of American society, and they resent a European making a film about small-town America. An oft-vented complaint is that Trier has no business criticizing a country which he's never actually visited. I don't think, however, that this is ultimately a film about guns; the relationship these kids have with their guns is simply a unique window through which the filmmakers have chosen to show us the rich inner lives of the protagonists. They could have used a dysfunctional family (Festen), or movie musicals (Dancer In The Dark) or a tolling church bell (Breaking The Waves) to show us that world - but in this case it's guns.

    Within the limits of the film medium - 10,000 words of dialog and around 140,000 frames of film - the choices of the filmmaker often revolve about what to leave OUT rather than what to put IN. This is a film that could be used as a textbook for economists. The script is tight - not a word out of place, although the narration feels conversational and casual. A film about child misfits and their guns could easily follow thematic red herrings all over the place in pursuit of social commentary, but "Dear Wendy" is utterly restrained - in spite of the "loaded" subject matter. On the cutting room floor are social commentary, cliché, and many of the cinematic crutches which Trier and Vinterberg rejected in their Dogme 95 days.

    Any film lover who cares to see a film utterly committed to its premise, a film made with economy and efficiency, a film full of sweet irony, a film of deceptive simplicity, would do well to check out "Dear Wendy."
    7diand_

    Literature: a tribute in irony

    First of all Dear Wendy is a tribute to Kubrick: We have the gang from A clockwork Orange, the gun named Lyndon (and the ancient guns) from Barry Lyndon. And there are more subtle references: a chart from one of the bullets reads Full Metal Jacket, etc.

    Although directed by his friend Vinterberg the story is written by von Trier and bears all the marks of a von Trier-movie, but this time it is deeply drawn up in irony. A typical Von Trier-story always watches like literature: idealist gains strength from his beliefs but is confronted by the real world (in this case an ex-con), his beliefs are shaken and self-imposed rules are broken. And enter the tragedy.

    The US-setting fits the teasing we are now familiar with from von Trier but the wider meaning is much more universal and it raises several interesting questions. Can a society be free of gun violence when people have guns readily available (US vs Switzerland)? Is gun culture and adoration a wider problem than guns themselves? Or do people need guns in order to rise against any form of eventual dictatorship? What does pacifism mean?

    This is a very refreshing movie from Vinterberg-von Trier. It is an interesting study in irony and gun culture with good camera-work from Anthony Dod Mantle and interesting special effects. Would certainly have made a splash and controversy at Cannes.
    8stormycin

    You will be thinking about this movie long after you leave the theatre...

    I saw this movie in France with a large group of friends, something I highly recommend. We all seemed to have a different take on the film and each of us was able to draw something unique from it. Some loved it; some hated it. One of us focused on the powerful characters, another on the coming-of-age aspect, another on the gun control issues, etc. I saw it as a commentary on the power of fear in light of current world events and about how allowing that fear to control your life can ultimately bring about the very tragedy of which you are most afraid.

    Dear Wendy certainly lends itself well to conversations that surpass the standard post-movie fare. I am looking forward to it coming stateside so I can see it again with other friends and see what reactions the film provokes in them ...
    9mortween

    The most under appreciated player in the league!

    This flick, with its subtle views on America's obsession with weapons, is likely not going to be a crowd pleaser. One of the main reasons for this is the films use of highly symbolic mise-en-scene takes several viewings to fully appreciate. Another reason for the let down is that some might be inclined to want more action for a movie that centralizes on guns.

    However, this movie is brilliant. The shot composition, the editing, the acting-this movie is very well pieced together. Also, as for the meaning of the movie, it goes in a direction that is a really provocative and fresh. I would highly recommend that you give this movie a chance, and keep an open mind. I have never been a fan of the director of this film or the writer, but I was deeply pleased by this film.
    8Vanihm

    Silly? Yes. Unrealistic? Yes. Entertaining? Absolutely!

    Thomas Vinterberg has finally reemerged from the disaster that was "It's all about love", and with help from compatriot Lars Von Trier he has delivered a hugely original and entertaining film. The story evolves around Dick - a small town loser who feels confident by holding a gun. Seeing this, he creates a group "the Dandies" of fellow gun-fanatics. Violent as it may seem, the point of the group is pacifism - to obsess with guns, but NOT TO USE THEM. Yet when ex-criminal Sebastian joins the group tensions emerge, and Dicks ego and his gun-obsession becomes a deadly cocktail. The story is absolutely outrageous, but Vinterberg, realizing this, gives the film a warped, almost giddy, feel. This actually complements Von Trier's screenplay better than the latter's ultra-realistic style, and prevents the film from becoming moralizing. The only real drawback of the story is the slow start and the dialog, which at times has difficulty hiding the fact that it has, in fact, been translated from Danish into English. Nevertheless, a strong comeback for Vinterberg - let's hope he can do some more serious stuff as well.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In Lars von Trier's script, the main characters were in their 20s. Director Thomas Vinterberg decided to change it, so they became children instead. Lars von Trier later stated that he thought the age change was a brilliant idea.
    • Goofs
      The plan of Electric Square labels "CENTRE POLE" using the British rather than the American spelling. The film was shot in Denmark and Germany rather than in West Virginia, USA.
    • Quotes

      [Huey has just shot Marshall Walker in the head]

      Huey: Officer d-d-down, I'm afraid!

    • Connections
      Featured in Letters to Dear Wendy (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      She's Not There
      Written and Performed by The Zombies

      Zombies Heaven, "Begin Here & Singles" (c)

      Courtesy of Marquis Enterprises

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Dear Wendy?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 2005 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Spain)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Calles peligrosas
    • Filming locations
      • Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Lucky Punch
      • Nimbus Film
      • Zentropa Entertainments
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • DKK 50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,106
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,222
      • Sep 25, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $607,229
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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