Dear Wendy

no whats the storyline? what happens anything good?

http://www.dearwendy.de/ has a synopsis. I was very pleased with the performances from the actors, especially Bell. Even Pullman came off pretty well, which was surprising (I did think he would ruin it initially though).

hmmm i cant get any further than the 1st page.

Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Origin: Denmark
Year: 2005
Duration: 105m
Starring: Bill Pullman, Jamie Bell

The latest collaboration between Vinterberg (FESTEN) and Lars Von Trier (who scripts), DEAR WENDY is a super-stylish, sure-to-become-cult film set in a mythical, modern America, shot and framed like a classic Western, complete with tumbleweeds, sheriffs, and lone gunslingers standing in billowing dust. It's the story of young loner Dick (Bell, an amazing transformation from his BILLY ELLIOT days), 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. It's a g-g-g-reat film, memorable for its characters, look and cracking soundtrack (featuring The Zombies catchy 'Time of the Season'), and a superb comment on much of the Western world's idea of itself as armed peace-keepers.

got it

Plot Summary for
Dear Wendy (2005)
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.

sounds bizarre. So it works?

Yes, very much so. I was impressed by the cinematography especially, the ambiguous-modern-western setting (the cops use mobile phones etc).

I was disturbed at the matter-of-factness of the whole piece - it was very deadpan about serious stuff.

...which is intended as a positive comment, by the way. By draining it of emotional charge, you're left to muse on the issues it raises.

Yes, indeed. I found myself laughing at some of the scenes, then questioning whether I should be or not.

Yeah, I laughed quite a bit despite myself.