"A Man Called Ove"...A Film Review

Earlier this month I blogged about a book I just finished, Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove. In short, I loved the book. It's witty, charming, thoughtful, and a delight. I was talking to someone about it and I told them how much I liked the book. They told me they enjoyed the movie as well.

I had no idea they made a movie. Then again, I had no idea the book existed until this month.

It's available right now on Amazon Prime, and I must say, it's a fine tribute to a fine book. I took all these pictures from the trailer, which does a good job at letting you know what you're in for.

The film's in Swedish with English subtitles. I hope you won't let that distract you from enjoying the film. I watched part of it on my iPad and didn't understand much, but when I watched it on TV with my wife, I understood more of the native language. Swedish is basically the same language as Danish, but the accent is much different, especially to a non-native Danish speaker.

The film (like the story that proceeds it...) tells the story of Ove. A curmudgeon and recent widower who must face a his future alone. The man operates in a world where everything works, all rules must be followed--at least, that's the way it should work. What he experiences is much different. People drive where they shouldn't, they park their bikes in non-allowed areas, dogs go to the bathroom wherever they want, and more and more people seem to want to live in a manner different than Ove would have them live.

It's also a wonderful, yet tragic love story (I'm not giving away any spoilers since we find out from the first scenes that Ove recently lost his wife...). As a young man, Ove is shy, but when he finds his true love, they stay together. It was the favorite part of the movie for me.

Surrounding Ove is a cast of misfits (idiots, Ove calls them...) who at first make Ove's life a living hell, but then become his family, a family he's never had with children and even long-estranged friends.

Once in a while a film comes along that surprises you. I loved Millions for that reason, as well as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I count A Man Called Ove as one of these as well. If you get a chance, watch it. It's as delightful as the book...almost.

Fredrik Backman's "A Man Called Ove"...A Book Review

My mother-in-law loaned me a book a few weeks ago. "Read it," she said. "It's good." My mother-in-law has pretty good taste in books so a recommendation from her goes a long way. I finished the book yesterday--I even read the book as I walked from the train to my car as I maneuvered flights of stairs and fellow commuters walking by me. I was so close and the book was so good.

Who'd have thought as story about a recently-unemployed widow who tried again and again to kill himself could be so delightful?

But it was!

I'd never hear do Fredrik Backman, a Swede who wrote A Man Called Ove, and other novels. I doubt I'll easily forget either him or his book anytime soon. A Man Called Ove centers around a man by the name of Ove. When I first saw the title, I thought it was a play on "Love" and how this man may be lacking something that keeps love from his reach. As I began reading I realized it's from Scandinavia and they have somewhat different names than we have in America.

However, as I read deep into the story, there's something to my original thought. Ove is completely original. A grumpy man, he faces a life without his wife and his job, things he's relied upon for decades. Perhaps it's because I'm closer to Ove's age than the twenty-somethings in the story, but I identified with Ove, rooted for him, understood him, felt his pain. Plus, you throw in a rescued cat and Ove becomes someone everyone champions. In short, there's a little Ove (and, in some cases, a lot of Ove...) in all of us.

The book's voice is conversational, personal, human. We're introduced to those who enters Ove's life at a comfortable pace, and we get to love them as well. It's amazing how Backman makes us care so much for someone who is so unlikable.

If you get an opportunity, give A Man Called Ove a chance. You'll be surprised at how much you like it, too.