A Man Called Ove (2015)

The life after the loved one departed.

This is a Swedish film based on the book of the same name. It is sent to represent the nation at the 2017 Oscars and as for now, it made into the December shortlist. This is the tale of an old grumpy man and the life after the death of his wife. That would be a toughest phase of life for anybody. I am sure you had seen many films like this, but this one was slightly different, yet totally convincing on every topic it focused on. So funny, at a time meaningful and emotional, particularly how the tale ends.

In a small township, a 59 year old man called Ove lived most of his life and now he decides to take his life. But the attempt was prevented when a new lousy neighbour arrives and so it keep delays further. Now's the time to reveal all the reasons behind his dreadful decision with lots of flashbacks and current affairs. That he's a nightmare in his neigbourhood to those who break the rules. He's not a friendly type, because of his childhood and the lessons he learnt from his father to face the life as tough it gets.

The only friend he ever had did not last for a long. His wife was his world and then the job at the railway. The narration given a good enough focus on his romance life. His younger version, played by another actor reveals particularly the initial stage like how he had met her. I don't know these actors, but they all were so good. A perfect setting as well for the story to take place. I think the filmmakers did lots of best decisions and in the end it all paid off with a greater recognition in the international level.

> "Honesty is the best thing, Ove. But sometimes honesty needs a little help."

A heartwarming comedy-drama for all age groups. I was looking for such a film and I realised only after watching it. The character Ove was designed awesomely and all the story events built around him was excellent. Covered most of the topics like friendship, love, neighbours, job, moral values, even the pet animals. Loads of fun, guaranteed entertainment if you are seeking a comedy film. As Ove was portrayed very seriously, all his actions, especially the newly arrived woman make major difference to end the film most comedic way.

The regularly visiting his wife's grave, the film beautifully gives an insight on the life of Ove being a widower and a retiree. But also how it all turns around for him who never laughs and finally he does, was the film's highlight. Like I always say, I'm not a book person, but I love watching films based on the good books like this one. An awesome adaptation and I hope those who loved the book, as well enjoyed the film.

Usually all the good films run nearly or over two hours. Because of the slow and steady developments in its characters and the story. For this film, you won't notice the time. The pace of the narration, including the lovable characters and the storyline makes you forget everything else. In a few days the 89th American Academy Awards nominees will be announced and I am sure it will make. Looks like this year, three Scandinavian films going to make the noise at the Oscars. In the meantime, I hint you not to miss it, either it wins or lose, it is one of the best films of the year around the world.

_8/10_

This is of course the original Swedish version of this film, soon to be joined for posterity by a U.S. version featuring Tom Hanks. The comparison between the two productions should prove to be interesting.

I actually enjoyed the movie a bit more than I did the book. Perhaps it is because I write novels myself. I found I did not connect with the printed lead character at all, whereas I felt much more sympathy for the movie character. By necessity a movie reduces the number of scenes usually, so there were fewer episodes of Ove being belligerent, plus the actor playing him was subtle in showing both wit and moments of caring at times. In the book I had more sympathy for his upbeat and witty wife, thinking, why does she stay with him?

Also in the book I was more aware of the passage of time. I suppose a movie tells a story in a different way, so it is less necessary to know the length of time taking place between major scenes. I was also cognizant in the film that the setting seemed more claustrophobic. Most of the action was indoors, in the residents’ yards or neighborhood, or at the cemetery. There aren’t many wide shots, unusually for a Scandinavian production. It reflects the narrow confines of Ove’s existence also, I suppose.

Anyway, the writing is strong and the acting, as near as a subtitle viewer can tell, is excellent. Like I said, I await with interest the Tom Hanks version. They will have trouble improving upon this version.

Rolf Lassgård looks like he is enjoying his role here as the curmudgeonly old "Ove". Widowed and now, compulsorily, retired he lives in his small community where he enforces the local by-laws enthusiastically whilst generally upsetting all his neighbours with his entertainingly caustic remarks. Lonely and increasingly frustrated, he alights on suicide - but one way or another it would seem that the Almighty isn't ready for him yet, either! Using some flashbacks of his younger life with wife "Sonja" (Ida Engvoll) we intersperse the timelines as the joy and optimism of that period of his life (Filip Berg gets the part here) with the sense of futility he experiences now as he feels entirely redundant. Those sentiments are only made worse by the arrival of new neighbours who are definitely not local and we realise there might just be an hint of xenophobia about our old gent too. This wouldn't be much of a story nor he a character if things weren't going to change, though, and the thrust of the plot gradually sees him exposed to things that are new but not unwelcome. You know he isn't actually the hostile and intolerant man he appears to be - it's part of his self defence mechanism. The question is - will his neighbours persevere or will they just abandon him to his melancholy. It's a gently entertaining film that looks at belligerence and bloody mindedness, but tempers those observations with plenty of humour and just an hint of encouragement for us to try to understand that change can be hard and nerve-wracking in people set in their ways - especially when that change challenges established views on race, or creed, or sexuality. He might well have the right ideas about social media, though...

Summary: 10/10: the definitive version of Backman's story, anchored by Lassgård's fearless performance and Holm's understanding that some character journeys can't be rushed.

This is the film that should have been your first encounter with Fredrik Backman's creation, and it earns every bit of its two Oscar nominations. Director Hannes Holm understands what the story requires: genuine unlikability slowly cracking open to reveal the grief and principle underneath.

Rolf Lassgård is the perfect Ove. He doesn't soften the character, doesn't signal the good heart beneath the curmudgeonly exterior. He commits fully to being an unlikeable, grumpy old man, pedantic and rigid and impossible. But right from the start, we're able to see the cracks in his armor; not because Lassgård is winking at us, but because Holm trusts us to notice the small moments, the hesitations, the ways Ove's inflexibility masks something deeper and more wounded.

The film allows for slow progression in Ove's character development. This isn't Hollywood compression, isn't therapy breakthroughs achieved in montage. Instead, we watch incremental change, resistance slowly eroding, community seeping in despite Ove's best efforts to remain isolated in his grief. The new neighbors, particularly Parvaneh and her family, don't fix Ove; they simply refuse to let him disappear. And Lassgård shows us each tiny shift, each moment when principle gives way just slightly to connection.

The one thing I missed from the book is the development of the warm relationship between Ove and Mirsad, the gay boy thrown out by his father. It's a beautiful subplot in Backman's novel, showing Ove's fierce protectiveness and fundamental decency. But I understand the omission; in a two-hour film, it would have been one too many relationships to develop fully, and the filmmakers made the right choice to focus their attention where it would have maximum impact.

By Act III, all of this careful groundwork pays off completely. The emotional resonance feels earned rather than manipulated, the character transformation believable because we've witnessed every reluctant step. This is true cinematic payoff, the kind that comes from patient storytelling and an actor willing to trust the process rather than rushing to likability.