Dear Wendy @ TIFF

September 15, 2005 - Dear Wendy, hmm not sure what to say.

Dear Wendy was the next film on our TIFF list. The movie was directed by Thomas Vinterberg, who directed this movie called Celebration, using the "Dogme" film technique/movement (you can thank Jason for that little piece of film knowledge). The movie was also written by Lars Von Trier (the co-founder of Dogme with Vinterberg). Anyway, the movie stars Jamie Bell of Billy Elliot fame.

Initially I didn't know what to make of the movie - the premise of the story is a group of young social misfits who form a group led by Jamie Bell's character, Dick, called the Dandies. They hang out in an abandoned mine and are obsess with their guns (though they came upon their love for guns unintentionally). They each have a name for their guns, with Dick's being "Wendy". They also have their own unique style of shooting which represents their shooting. Though they vowed to never use their guns, an unexpected "event" occurs and their "loving" relationship with their guns is changed...

After giving it some thought during my drive home, I think the film is trying to send out different messages. Is the movie one complete metaphor to show our world's love for firearms ? is it a illustrating how certain nations are just completely dillusional in thinking how they could own (and love) guns and violence but yet try to hide them and make excuses for having them ? so is it anti-guns ? or anti-gun culture ? hmmm....still pondering...