See it at the Movies

A MAN CALLED OVE 

By Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 10/20/16

* * * * (Joyce)

* * * 1/2 (Don)

(Lovely little Swedish character study)

Swedish actor Rolf Lassgard stars as a crusty, lonely, aging widower in this lovely little film that combines humor …

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See it at the Movies

A MAN CALLED OVE 

Posted

* * * * (Joyce)

* * * 1/2 (Don)

(Lovely little Swedish character study)

Swedish actor Rolf Lassgard stars as a crusty, lonely, aging widower in this lovely little film that combines humor with romanticism and a bit of nostalgia.

Ove lives in a quaint little housing development where he asserts himself by making sure his neighbors and especially outsiders follow all of the rules. Ove misses his wife terribly. We watch flashbacks showing how they met, married and lived their lives until she was taken from him by cancer.

Now he pretty much keeps to himself, holding a grudge against his disabled best friend that dates back to a disagreement over the cars they drive. Loyalist Ove wouldn’t think of driving anything besides a Swedish Saab.

When a new family moves across the street, the pregnant Iranian wife works her way into, and changes, his life and some of his prejudices.

There’s plenty of black humor along the way, as Ove, who wishes to be with his wife, tries unsuccessfully to commit suicide, foiled at every turn by the unsuspecting woman. Watching Ove melt is one of the many joys of this often predictable but charming story.

“A Man Called Ove” is a fine example of the many award-winning foreign films that the Avon brings to Rhode Island. Rated PG-13, with some profanity (in Swedish).

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