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Dear Wendy

Play trailer Poster for Dear Wendy Released Sep 23, 2005 1h 44m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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35% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In a blue-collar American town, a group of teens bands together to form the Dandies, a gang of gunslingers led by Dick Dandelion (Jamie Bell). Following a code of strict pacifism at odds with the fact that they all carry guns, the group eventually lets in Sebastian (Danso Gordon), the grandson of Dick's childhood nanny, Clarabelle (Novella Nelson), who fears the other gangs in the area. Dick and company try to protect Clarabelle, but events transpire that push the gang past posturing.
Dear Wendy

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Critics Consensus

A film with numerous ideas but little grasp of how to effectively communicate them, Dear Wendy lacks the intelligence or insight that its difficult subject matter demands.

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Critics Reviews

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Wesley Morris Film Comment Magazine Sadly, the real Thomas Vinterberg appears to be standing up. But for what exactly? Nov 19, 2013 Full Review Michael Posner Globe and Mail We get it, Lars. Actually, we got it some time ago. Guns are bad things. They kill people and Americans are obsessed with them. Can we move on now? Rated: 2/4 Feb 24, 2006 Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times If Jamie Bell can't rescue a movie, it's probably not salvageable. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 6, 2006 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Jan 22, 2013 Full Review Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Rated: 2/5 Jan 22, 2013 Full Review Jason Gorber Film Scouts Leave it to the Dogme brothers to do a strange, darkly comedic tale about a posse of dandies that fall in love with their guns. Rated: A- Jun 21, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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colin m Poor concept led to a weak uninteresting film. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Lars von Trier wrote a film and gave it to fellow countryman Thomas Vinterberg. Both has done exceptional movie work several times but this is something quite different: It's nothing special. Well, it's a group of younger kids and their love for guns. There are some trouble and there are some action, but there is no great momentum here. Dick - our main guy, is some kind of loser and his friends are no big guns (hoho) either. When their intrest of guns escalate there are some sort of turn here, and it's them against the world. It's hard for me to stay interested and it's not thrilling or entertaining. Not a inspirational or heartfelt film either. The idea that this is a anti-film put against the USA's love of guns are alive but not supported by many - me included. It felt half-hearted, but I'm guessing there are some hidden meanings here. I never got it, and I never bothered to google it. 4 out of 10 targets. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member von Trier is why my MUBI user name is Dogville59. He wrote Dear Wendy and along with direction by Thomas Vinterberg made this movie. Trier is able to scathingly expose American insanity in this case via its obsession with the gun.Gun proponents should watch this movie. Powerful and cuts through the dark side of America as only Trier can: the same way Dogville does. No wonder a certain segment of America hates him. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought this was a sharp bit of satire about a group of young social misfits who develop a fascination with guns. They form a strange, insular social group called "The Dandies" that makes them feel more powerful and self-assured, while also divorcing them from reality. Their loss of a firm grip on reality leads to a bizarre, violent climax. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member "Dear Wendy" is pretentious--it's also a visceral thrill with some fine writing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member What a film! Great story, awesome cast... brilliantly directed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Dear Wendy

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Movie Info

Synopsis In a blue-collar American town, a group of teens bands together to form the Dandies, a gang of gunslingers led by Dick Dandelion (Jamie Bell). Following a code of strict pacifism at odds with the fact that they all carry guns, the group eventually lets in Sebastian (Danso Gordon), the grandson of Dick's childhood nanny, Clarabelle (Novella Nelson), who fears the other gangs in the area. Dick and company try to protect Clarabelle, but events transpire that push the gang past posturing.
Director
Thomas Vinterberg
Producer
Sisse Graum Jørgensen
Screenwriter
Lars von Trier
Distributor
Wellspring Media
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 21, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA)
$23.1K
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround