Hunt this one down.
Unlikely title, unlikely poster, unlikely everything aside, A Man Called Ove (2015) is exactly the reason why film is an art.
Based on Fredrik Backman's hit novel, Hannes Holm's adaptation is the amusing tale of a grumpy old man who wants to commit suicide. What makes it funny is that when he tries to do it, things keep happening that make him have to stop and grumpily help other people. Because they don't know how to do things right.
Other people such as: the new neighbors Patrick and Parvaneh (Pars). The latter, who has two young daughters, is from Iran. (Here Backman, who is himself married to a woman from Iran, draws on personal experience.)
For many viewers the description which best fits Ove will automatically call to mind the movie Grumpy Old Men (1993), starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. This is not that movie. Marbled in equal parts with the humor is the drama of how Ove became embittered.
Through periodic flashbacks we come to understand the course of his life. His mother died when he was a boy, and so his father raised him alone. Most movies that deal with parental relationships focus on one parent only. Nor does this film buck that trend.
In a similar arbitrary choice, Ove is the sort of Swede who has decided to bestow undying affection for all Saab vehicles, and to feel the opposite toward all other car companies and all other cars, especially Volvo. This is because the character of Ove (sounds like "Oo-va" and means "blade" in Old Norse) is such an exacting fellow. Before anyone can sit in his car, he has to spread out newspapers over the seats in order to protect them. However, when trying to kill himself in his living room, he doesn't think to close the drapes. And can therefore be easily seen and interrupted.
Rolf Lassgard's performance in particular merits note. He brings a lot of life to Ove, especially when grieving over his late wife, Sonja (Engvoll), whose grave he often visits. He spends most of his time fussing around his small neighborhood playing self-appointed enforcer of rules, picking up cigarette butts from the sidewalk, making certain that gates are properly shut, and generally going ballistic when he sees people driving where they shouldn't.
In spite of this busy schedule he maintains, and in spite of his intractable demeanor, Ove develops an unlikely friendship with Parvaneh. And it is on this friendship that the story hinges.
Tom Hanks, by the way, according to information found online, is looking into making and starring in an American version of the movie.
Heartwarming but not sentimental, A Man Called Ove is a great little gem available through Netflix, Amazon, and wherever fine videos are sold.
A MAN CALLED OVE
Starring Rolf Lassgard,
Bahar Pars,
Filip Berg,
Ida Engvoll,
Tobias Almborg,
Chatarina Larsson,
Johan Widerberg
Written and directed by Hannes Holm
Based on the novel by Fredrik Backman
Runtime 116 minutes
Rated PG-13
Stewart Kirby writes for
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