A Man Called Ove

"Misery hates company."

2015 1h 56m SV

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 1,379

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Despite being deposed as president of his condominium association, grumpy 59-year-old Ove continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist. When pregnant Parvaneh and her family move into the terraced house opposite Ove and she accidentally backs into Ove’s mailbox, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life.

“Misery hates company.”

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Cast

Rolf Lassgård
Ove
Bahar Pars
Parvaneh
Filip Berg
Young Ove
Ida Engvoll
Sonja
Tobias Almborg
Patrick
Klas Wiljergård
Jimmy
Chatarina Larsson
Anita
Börje Lundberg
Rune

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Hannes Holm
Writers: Hannes Holm
Languages: Persian, Swedish
Countries: Norway, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Persian, Swedish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Norway, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Hannes Holm, shot by Göran Hallberg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gaute Storaas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Fredrik Morheden shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Rolf Lassgård and Bahar Pars and Filip Berg carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Misery hates company.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Hannes Holm directs. Göran Hallberg behind the camera. Gaute Storaas scores. Fredrik Morheden cuts. Produced in Norway, Sweden. Dialogue in Persian, Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 11 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Persian, Swedish.
3International production across 2 countries: Norway, Sweden.
4Directed by Hannes Holm, shot by Göran Hallberg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Gaute Storaas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Fredrik Morheden shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Rolf Lassgård and Bahar Pars and Filip Berg carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Misery hates company.".
9IMDB entry: tt4080728 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 15 themes, including "friendship", "dark comedy", "black humor", "suicidal".

The technical file

Cinematography: Göran Hallberg
Original score: Gaute Storaas
Editing: Fredrik Morheden
Production design: Jan Olof Ågren
Costume design: Camilla Olai Lindblom
Makeup / hair: Eva von Bahr
Stunt coordinator: Kimmo Rajala
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $30,692,889
Original language: SV
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: A Man Called Ove (2015)

Awards

European Film Award for Best Comedy

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Hannes Holm

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-01-24
★ 8/10
The life after the loved one departed. This is a Swedish film based on the book of the same name. It is sent to represent the nation at the 2017 Oscars and as for now, it made into the December shortlist. This is the tale of an old grumpy man and the life after the death of his wife. That would be a toughest phase of life for anybody. I am sure you had seen many films like this, but this one was slightly different, yet totally convincing on every topic it focused on. So funny, at a time meaningful and emotional, particularly how the tale ends. In a small township, a 59 year old man called Ove lived most of his life and now he decides to take his life. But the attempt was prevented when a new lousy neighbour arrives and so it keep delays further. Now's the time to reveal all the reasons behind his dreadful decision with lots of flashbacks and current affairs. That he's a nightmare in his neigbourhood to those who break the rules. He's not a friendly type, because of his childhood and the lessons he learnt from his father to face the life as tough it gets. The only friend he ever had did not last for a long. His wife was his world and then the job at the railway. The narration given a good enough focus on his romance life. His younger version, played by another actor reveals particularly the initial stage like how he had met her. I don't know these actors, but they all were so good. A perfect setting as well for the story to take place. I think the filmmakers did lots of best decisions and in the end it all paid off with a greater recognition in the international level. "Honesty is the best thing, Ove. But sometimes honesty needs a little help." A heartwarming comedy-drama for all age groups. I was looking for such a film and I realised only after watching it. The character Ove was designed awesomely and all the story events built around him was excellent. Covered most of the topics like friendship, love, neighbours, job, moral values, even the pet animals. Loads of fun, guaranteed entertainment if you are seeking a comedy film. As Ove was portrayed very seriously, all his actions, especially the newly arrived woman make major difference to end the film most comedic way. The regularly visiting his wife's grave, the film beautifully gives an insight on the life of Ove being a widower and a retiree. But also how it all turns around for him who never laughs and finally he does, was the film's highlight. Like I always say, I'm not a book person, but I love watching films based on the good books like this one. An awesome adaptation and I hope those who loved the book, as well enjoyed the film. Usually all the good films run nearly or over two hours. Because of the slow and steady developments in its characters and the story. For this film, you won't notice the time. The pace of the narration, including the lovable characters and the storyline makes you forget everything else. In a few days the 89th American Academy Awards nominees will be announced and I am sure it will make. Looks like this year, three Scandinavian films going to make the noise at the Oscars. In the meantime, I hint you not to miss it, either it wins or lose, it is one of the best films of the year around the world. 8/10
Peter McGinn2022-12-29
★ 8/10
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? Also 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 cognizant 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 the 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.
CinemaSerf2024-07-31
★ 7/10
Rolf Lassgård looks like he is enjoying his role here as the curmudgeonly old "Ove". Widowed and now, compulsorily, retired he lives in his small community where he enforces the local by-laws enthusiastically whilst generally upsetting all his neighbours with his entertainingly caustic remarks. Lonely and increasingly frustrated, he alights on suicide - but one way or another it would seem that the Almighty isn't ready for him yet, either! Using some flashbacks of his younger life with wife "Sonja" (Ida Engvoll) we intersperse the timelines as the joy and optimism of that period of his life (Filip Berg gets the part here) with the sense of futility he experiences now as he feels entirely redundant. Those sentiments are only made worse by the arrival of new neighbours who are definitely not local and we realise there might just be an hint of xenophobia about our old gent too. This wouldn't be much of a story nor he a character if things weren't going to change, though, and the thrust of the plot gradually sees him exposed to things that are new but not unwelcome. You know he isn't actually the hostile and intolerant man he appears to be - it's part of his self defence mechanism. The question is - will his neighbours persevere or will they just abandon him to his melancholy. It's a gently entertaining film that looks at belligerence and bloody mindedness, but tempers those observations with plenty of humour and just an hint of encouragement for us to try to understand that change can be hard and nerve-wracking in people set in their ways - especially when that change challenges established views on race, or creed, or sexuality. He might well have the right ideas about social media, though...