Movie Review: "A Man Called Ove"

"A Man Called Ove": A.  He snarls at a stray cat, yells at drivers who disregard the posted signs strictly prohibiting cars on the path, argues with cashiers over the unfairness of their stores' coupon policies, locks up bicycles which are left anywhere other than the bike rack, angrily confronts a clown for failing to return the same coin he loaned for a magic trick, and grumbles the word "idiots," sometimes very audibly, at people whose behavior isn't in line with his expectations.  Meet Ove (Rolf Lassgard), the fifty-nine year old Swedish version of Clint Eastwood's "get off my lawn" character in Gran Torino.  Ove (pronounced "OH-vah") is the quintessential curmudgeon.  I am willing to forgive Ove's few foibles.  He is my kind of guy!

Ove has a big heart both figuratively and, we find out later, biologically.  He visits his wife's grave every day, holding conversations as if she were physically present.  He has promised he will join her shortly, and goes to extremes in attempts to keep that promise.  But life gets in the way.

Ove is the caretaker custodian at a complex of several town homes.  He takes his job very seriously, maybe too seriously.  He leaves notes on the windshields of cars imperfectly parked in an almost-empty lot.  He insults pets and their owners.  He carries a notepad to record the details of equipment borrowed and returned by the residents.  He shows little compassion for a woman whose heater isn't working.  Ove would just as soon live a cloistered existence, but unfortunately for him, his position as custodian requires interfacing with his neighbors every day.  He puts up a gruff front, but deep inside there's a kind soul.  For example, when imposed upon to babysit his neighbor's small children, he enjoys himself even though he does not want to let on that he does.  He goes to bat on behalf of his long-time friend and rival, Rune (Borje Lundberg), whom the "authorities" want to commit to an institution because the man has been incapacitated by a stroke.

Ove's evolving relationship with a pregnant woman, Parvaneh (Bahar Pars), is one of the most captivating side stories of the enduring film.  Ove helps Parvaneh learn how to drive after her husband, one of Ove's "idiots," fractures his leg. He installs Parvaneh's dishwasher without being asked. He enjoys telling her about his happier days when he and his bride, Sonja (Ida Engvoll), were young, another well-told side story.

When a movie spends virtually all of its time focused on one character, that character better be worth our attention. Writer and director Hannes Holm, basing his script closely on the international best-selling novel of the same title by Fredrik Backman, succeeds with flying colors, with copious amounts of humor built in.  Ove can't understand how anyone in his right mind would prefer a Volvo to a Saab.  And woe to any traitor who drives a Renault!  I was particularly impressed with Holm's liberal but seamless use of flashbacks to the times when Ove was a nine year old boy and when he was in his twenties.  Actors Viktor Baagoe and Filip Berg play those roles.  Berg is on the screen quite a bit.  He and Engvoll share a rare on-screen chemistry, delivering a love story with many magic moments.

I can't say enough about Lassgard's lead performance.  Through his body language, his facial expressions and even his gait, the actor is able to put the audience in touch with his wide range of emotions before he utters a word.  When he strains to bend over to pick up a couple of discarded cigarette butts, or when he examines a bent mailbox pole that an errant driver has backed into, we can feel his frustration at his neighbors' disregard for the rules.  The world would be a better place if only more people saw things his way.  Two great minds thinking alike.  I feel the same way.