A Man Called Ove

Ove is a simple man, hard-working, bad-tempered and broken inside, who decides one day life is not worth the effort, so he plans to end it – that way he would finally be reunited with his wife, his greatest love, and be at peace after a long and tortuous journey. However, the neighbourhood where Ove lives is full of reminders that life continues and he still plays a role in it, whether he likes it or not. 

This touching and inspiring story is about about hardship, love and how we can’t escape death, or living. We follow the protagonist’s journey in retrospect, from his youth to his early adulthood and his relationship with his wide. As the older Ove, Rolf Lassgård gifts us with a brilliant performance that is humble but strong and emotional. 

It’s difficult to fit this movie into a single genre; both elements of comedy and drama are perfectly balanced, as if director Hannes Holm is trying to throw some sense of humour over the intrinsically tough moments life confronts us with. A sort of omnipresent black humour surrounds Ove’s and his neighbours equally.

The film is based on the bestseller by Fredrik Backman, and all movie-lovers will enjoy it from beginning to end. Gaute Storaas’s subtle and funny soundtrack ties the plot together with its hopeful and darker tones, while the cinematography is clean and polished, with lots of cold and warm colours depending on whether we’re seeing the 59-year-old protagonist or his younger self; this brings a powerful meaning to Ove’s modern-day routine and his history, revealing to the audience the reason behind his wish for committing suicide.

One of the finest Swedish dramas in years, A Man Called Ove is a feel-good, honest and funny piece of cinema. 

Maria Barrios

A Man Called Ove is released nationwide on 30^th  June 2017.

Watch the trailer for A Man Called Ove  here: