A Man Called Ove

Reno

2017-01-24

⭐ 8

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 calle…

Peter McGinn

2022-12-29

⭐ 8

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 show…

CinemaSerf

2024-07-31

⭐ 7

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 (F…

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 exteri…