Too much of everything

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Such a Lovely movie. I just Happened across this movie, I had Not heard of it but I fell in love with the main character. Grief can turn to anger when what is needed is love and to be needed. We all need a reason to go on.

A story well enough told, but there is no originality. Guess that's why this is so easy to take in: everything seems nicely familiar, and well within one's comfort zone. Problem is, this is not funny enough for a comedy. See, comedy relies on the element of surprise, which this one doesn't offer. The story, lifted from the pages of a popular novel, recycles the age-old theme of a cantankerous old dude who hates the ways of the modern world. While the resourceful Rolf Lassgård is in fine form in the lead, his character is too familiar to begin with. Director carefully follows the path well-travelled, which makes the whole movie seem more like a product than an actual work of art or self-expression. Cinematography, especially, is way too generically "well-balanced".The few merits of the movie include the cast - and the ending, which is - finally - a little bit touching. Too little, too late.

Ove maintains control over his life by being punctilious in everything he does. He doesn't hoard, like others might, he just insists on the following of rules, both by himself and everyone else. He clearly sees himself as the ideal Swede even to the point of only ever driving a Saab. Early in his life, he recognises another man of similar age who seems to share his obsessions....all is well until the other man, who has defiantly had a series of Volvo cars, buys a BMW. This is the final straw and the two men refuse to have anything to do with the other...despite their shared principles. This is just the surface patina of an ocean of feelings that Ove cannot share as his wife has departed without him. He tends her grave daily and, almost as often, tries to commit suicide in order to be with her again. He is comically inept at this task and is tested sorely by the arrival of a mixed race family who take up residence next door. Through interactions with them, we get to learn of Ove's traumatic and sad life experiences and the joy that his wife Sonja represented to him. The whole is a masterclass in story telling and visual representation. You'll weep but only after laughing heartily at some of Ove's exploits. Well done!

I really enjoyed this movie, I thought it touched on many themes. I guess the first one would be reflection on your life, especially when you get over 60 and people around you get sick, disabled or pass away. When we first see Ove bossing people around in his living complex, we know none of the backstory. But this is slowly revealed and we see someone who has a decent set of personal values that have been passed down by his father. He lives by these and expects others in the community to do the same. At first we think he is just a stickler for little things, but with the arrival of the new family next door, we soon find it is not little things that set him off, but only little things that represent major issues. I can see Ove as a great union steward, looking after his men and at the same time being loyal and hard working for his employer. Communities are built this way. The children next door immediately pick up on his inner nature, they are truly adorable. You can see that they immediately absorb is orderly and empathetic view of the world.