A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010)

I consider myself a fan of Scandinavian crime thrillers, but those were shot primarily in Sweden or Denmark; I have not seen too many Norwegian films (however, the one before this, Hodejegerne, I enjoyed a lot), and I was prepared for slow pace and long frames without text, but still - I found the first half an hour or so too protracted. Thereafter, I probably got used to it and enjoyed this odd and hectic running of events, giftedly performed by catchy character actors - Stellan Skarsgård as Ulrik, above all (he should have been got more awards for this role), as well as all actresses regardless their duration on screen. I had no fits of laughter, but I giggled a lot and shared the feelings of peculiar sorts of people with different age and background. The scenes preceding the very ending could have been with more twists, but nevertheless, this film is recommended to admirers of films where all characters have issues.

Fmovies: "A Somewhat Gentle Man" is a story that took me by surprise. While it is very slow-paced and deliberate, I thought this meant the film would be pretty dull. On the contrary...it turned out to be a really neat character study and is well worth seeing.

Ulrik (Stellan Skarsgård) has served 12 years in prison for murder. And, the prison folks seem to think he hasn't yet learned his lesson. The viewer isn't sure as well...mostly because Ulrik is a very quiet and subdued man...and what's boiling inside is uncertain. Through the course of the movie you come to actually like the guy and appreciate the many choices he has to make...especially whether to kill the stoolie who sent him to prison!

I enjoyed seeing the evolution of the character. And, I appreciate that he did grow and change...but still was true to his original character. How all this transpires, you'll have to see for yourself in this quiet but captivating movie.

By the way, this film is a bit adult...with some nudity, sexual situations and a bit of violence.

Norwegian comedy about a convict readapting to life outside of prison. This is well crafted comedy. It has an understated and very dry black humor.

Reminds me of Fargo but this one is actually funny. From the boss who talks nonstop to the landlady who gets "paid" for her meals.

It is intelligently directed and will not irritate you with clichés or boring sequences. To boot you get to immerse yourself in a industrial seamy part of Oslo.

This is black humor at its best.

RECOMMEND

A Somewhat Gentle Man fmovies. It's amazing that even on a renowned Festival as the one in Berlin, there can be shown movies like this. It's not really something you (or in that case I) would expect to see there. Yes it has Stellan S., but the story as it is, is very bleak and humorous to say the least. A story that you would expect to pop up at other Festivals then. Especially with the crude humour, it's way of not pulling punches (but indeed delivering them) and characters that are way out there.

A few gross scenes, that are not necessarily violent, because sometimes even "romance" can be "brutal" to watch, as the viewers were moaning in a bad way at some scenes ... which you'll understand, once you watch the movie. Still very engaging and very well played. I liked it a lot.

Ulrik, a sort of taciturn middle aged man, is seen getting out of prison as the story begins. Having served time, he is facing an uncertain world. The former con wants to get away from his past life, but alas, his former boss, Rune, has a different idea, he wants Ulrik to take care of the man that was responsible for sending him to jail.

A newly released prisoner is not exactly what employers look forward to hire, but with a bit of influence from Rune, he is engaged as a auto mechanic in the shop run by a man that wants Ulrik to concentrate in fixing the problems brought to him, and do not get involved with Merete, the lady that takes care of the books in the office of the garage.

Rune is even able to get Ulrik a basement room with his sister, Karen Margarethe, a lady of uncertain age, who takes pity on the man. Karen starts by bringing Ulrik a second hand television set, as well as meals she prepares. The lodger finds a way to make the set to work, being able to catch a Polish broadcast of a program similar to 'Dancing With the Stars', something that hooks the landlady into coming to visit Ulrik with the meals she cooks for him. It does not take long before Karen Margarethe and Ulrik are copulating in his room.

When Ulrik's boss gets sick, he must be taken to a hospital. Merete also begin getting closer to Ulrik, who likes her as well. The ex-con is interested in renewing the relationship with his son, something that he misses. When Rune pressures Ulrik to get rid of the stool pigeon that fingered him, but Rune has a surprise for his former boss.

We were pleasantly surprised by this film when we saw it IFC recently. It takes the viewer a while to get into the picture, but Hans Peter Moland, its director, kept us involved in this tale about a man that wants to reintegrate into society, but his past life keeps getting in his way. The screenplay is Kim Fupz Aakeson. It is a dark film that works well because once one gets into the story, it is a joy ride until the ironic twist at the end.

Stellan Skarsgard, the Swedish actor, has never been better. His Ulrik is an amazing creation that deserves to be seen by serious movie fans. The supporting cast is wonderful. Bjorn Floberg, the amazing Jorunn Kjellsby as Karen Margarethe, and Jannike Krusse do a fantastic job for Mr. Moland.

" A Somewhat Gentle Man", is quite a surprise. When I scanned the description of the movie, I expected a crime flick. My mistake for not paying proper attention to detail. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this quirky comedy very much. My experience with the Norwegian comedy is hopelessly limited, but if this movie is typical of it, I wouldn't mind seeing more.The humor swerves between deadpan and grotesque with an amazing ease.The characters are people that life didn't pat on the back. They are beaten, bitter or just plain depressed. The jokes are smart and original, and the actors are not clowning, but playing very serious. That's the reason, probably, that I found this strange little flick so fresh and funny.