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Friday, November 12, 2010

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)


Try to imagine a romantic comedy that begins with killing yourself. It's a challenge to manage, and that is what makes this film unusual. After Zia dies, he finds himself in a parallel universe that is much like his real life was--only a little bit worse. Not so much worse that you keep cutting your wrists--no 'Groundhog Day' endless loop here. But just enough worse that you realize that this is indeed hell--the place where you find out that despondency will bring you no conclusion, no end, just somethign that will worsen your mood--ever so slightly.

But then he meets Eugene, who makes this alternative universe he has trapped himself in more bearable, and then Mikal, who makes it down right nice. The catch is that she is making every effort to get out, and she seems to have a verifiable reason for exiting--she didn't try to kill herself. Uh oh. If she leaves, what will Zia do?
It is perhaps hard to imagine a film where suicide and laughing co-exist, but it happens in 'Wristcutters' and it is well worth seeing.

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