“Wicker” shouldn’t be as good as it is. Its backstory is steeped in familiar and worn tropes, featuring a motley assortment of villagers inhabiting what appears to be a medieval English fishing village. The residents in this insular community gossip frequently, ridicule each other when norms aren’t met and reveal an unkind and narrow-minded side to their close-knit society. The townspeople are identified and called by their occupations or relationships to others, such as the Basketmaker, Innkeeper, Butcher and the Shoemaker’s Wife. What makes the film work is the originality of its story, adapted from British writer Ursula Wills-Jones’s short story “The Wicker Husband,” along with the terrific performances by its principal actors.
Ten minutes into the film, I wasn’t yet convinced of its appeal, despite knowing that its opening box-office numbers were impressive for a modestly budgeted, R-rated movie. But as the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly drawn in. The film is a delightful blend of romantic fantasy and period comedy. The story’s unusual premise brings a welcome dose of originality to the big screen in a year largely dominated by sequels and remakes. The story centers around Fisherwoman, who is middle-aged, socially awkward and routinely ridiculed by the villagers for being unmarried. She lives alone on the outskirts of town and is often teased about her appearance and fish-smelling trade when she ventures into town to sell her wares. The acclaimed British actress Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”) is both formidable and indispensable in the role of Fisherwoman. She deftly captures Fisherwoman’s blend of humor and vulnerability, as she confronts the daily indignities of life as an outsider. To say this film’s success rested on Colman’s shoulders is not an understatement.
Tired of the judgmental villagers, Fisherwoman approaches the local Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) and asks him to make her a husband out of wicker. He takes this project on, and the result is the Wicker Husband played by Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard. Wicker Husband turns out to be physically handsome despite all the wicker covering him and he is devoted to Fisherwoman. He is handy and enthusiastically fixes up her home and takes on other chores. In other words, the wicker creation appears to be a perfect husband. Skarsgard does a remarkable job of bringing Wicker Husband’s earnest, deliberate personality to life, relying on subtle movements and expressions even though he is encased in wicker and facial prosthetics throughout the film. Despite standing just 4 feet 4 inches tall, Dinklage, known for his role in “Game of Thrones,” has a commanding screen presence and is perfectly cast as Basketmaker.
The scenes in which Fisherwoman is getting to know her unique new husband are tender and poignant. Their unconventional marriage quickly becomes the talk of the town, much to the couple’s dismay, as they would prefer to enjoy their quiet life together rather than become the center of attention. Wicker Husband’s consideration and noticeable love for his wife prompts other wives in the village to examine their marriages and ask more of their husbands. Jealousies and resentments arise, making life more complicated for Fisherwoman and Wicker Husband. The plot tension involves the growing concern, felt by the audience, that some villagers will try to sabotage Fisherwoman’s love story out of their own pettiness and envy. This movie is both light and heavy at the same time. Amid the fun, mischief and absurdity of the unfolding village drama, the film also explores more meaningful themes of trust, loyalty, love and friendship.
Alexander Skarsgard’s wicker outfitting was a complex process, which during initial film testing and early scene filming is reported to have involved 7 to 8 hours in the prep chair. As things became streamlined, this process became about 2 hours of outfitting work to cover Wicker Husband’s body in movable wicker. The wicker consisted of multiple modular pieces to allow movement, which were crafted over 18 months in New Zealand. “Wicker”, which opened nationwide on October 23, has been playing at our own Paragon Founders Row theaters in downtown Falls Church. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. And a shout-out to Paragon: I can personally attest that its movie seats are among the most comfortable in the region, and its concession food offerings are among the best.
