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User Reviews for: A Man Called Ove

Peter McGinn
/10  one year ago
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?

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 more aware 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 thre 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.
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