Since the Wisconsin Film Festival offers a cinematic buffet,
it may be hard to settle on just a few movies. It was only in a seemingly blind
manner that I came across “Waiter,” or “Ober,” as it is originally
called in Dutch. But don’t panic — it has subtitles.

The film tells the story of Edgar, a waiter. Working at a
slightly upscale restaurant, Edgar is fed up with more than his job, including
everyone around him. From his wife to his neighbors and even his mistress,
nothing is satisfying and Edgar’s life is going nowhere fast. With the
realization that his life has been entirely produced by a screenwriter, Edgar
is quick to demand some change to his mundane life, from more dignity to a sexy
new girlfriend.

What makes this film intriguing is the obvious similarity to
the Will Ferrell movie “Stranger Than Fiction” (2006). Yet it is that
similarity that makes this film worth seeing. For a different perspective on a
story we may have heard before — or just because the movie itself is Dutch and
that’s cool too — give it a shot.

“Waiter” will be screened this Thursday in the
Memorial Union Theater at 7 p.m.