Saturday, 31 December 2022 09:54

Man Called Otto, A

man otto

A MAN CALLED OTTO

 

US, 2022, 126 minutes, Colour.

Tom Hanks, Marianna Trevino, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Juanita Jennings, Mike Birbiglia.

Directed by Marc Forster.

 

Otto was originally Ove, the grumpy central character of the Swedish novel and then an Oscar-nominated Swedish film, A Man Called Ove. He has now crossed the Atlantic and become Otto.

It may seem something of a paradox to say that this film about grouchy Otto is very genial. It is something of a crowd-pleaser. And, that is due to the fact that it casts the American icon, Tom Hanks, as Otto. We guess that Otto will eventually smile – but we can’t necessarily count on that.

Otto is a widower, very sad at the death of his wife, visiting her grave in the cemetery frequently, bringing flowers, talking with her – and wanting to join her very soon. In fact, he does make several attempts, often botched, sometimes interrupted! He has his daily routine, living in a small gated street, imposing the rules and minute regulations, checking on everything and everyone, telling people off, and growling when his neighbours greet him in the morning. And yet, Tom Hanks makes us interested in him.

One day Otto is exasperated as a U-Haul van bumps onto the sidewalk and he intervenes, discovering his new neighbours, the livewire pregnant mother, Marisol (an exuberant Marianna Trevino), her rather accident-prone husband (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), surprised by two young girls sitting in the back of the van. We know that they are going to be the facilitators of some change in Otto but we enjoy discovering how – for instance, Marisol not having a driver’s license and needing to get to the hospital because her awkward husband has fallen off the ladder borrowed from Otto, and Otto deciding to give her a driving lesson, not without its hazards. And Marisol provides food for him – which surprises him because he finds it tasty. Later he will be asked to babysit the children, not his forte, and a severe clash with an over-enthusiastic clown who borrows his precious silver dollar, memory of his wife, and the clown gives him back another one instead!

So, while there is a lot to amuse, including some of the other neighbours, there is a great deal to be serious about. Otto has lost his zest for life and wants to end it. He does take an interest in Marisol and the family despite himself. He has to reconcile with a friend, African-American, from the past who is now paralysed, with whom he had fallen out, and discovering that the officious real estate agents, wanting to develop the street, are prepared to throw his friend and his wife out. He helps the young paper deliverer to fix his bike, bonding with him, and discovering that he is a trans-young man.

So, Otto’s street, is something of a microcosm of the United States, the presence of white people, the presence of African-Americans, the presence of Hispanics, the presence of gender-finding people…

And, there is the iconic Tom Hanks at the centre, causing us to be upset with him at times, but eliciting our sympathy.

A genially humane film.

  1. The title, the focus on Otto, as a man, as a grumbling Everyman? The adaptation of a Swedish story and film?
  2. The American setting, the town, homes, the private street? The action confined to the area? The cemetery, the railway station? The wider scope in the flashbacks, the young Otto, family, work, meeting Sophie and the train, the encounters, the restaurant and the kiss, marriage, Niagara Falls, the bus crash? The musical score?
  3. Tom Hanks has Otto, in his mid-50s, living alone, punctual in time, his routine in checking all the cars in the street, the gate? Going to work, the cake with his icing photo, cantankerous, criticising his being ousted? Widower? Six months? His dealings with people, cranky? The real estate agents, driving in, confronting them? The paperboy and the bike? Curmudgeon?
  4. The gradual revelation of Otto and his life, depression, visit to the cemetery, two bunches of flowers for the price of one, talking to Sophie? Wanting to join her? Succession of suicide attempts, buying the rope and his being abusive to the young man in the shop? Not wanting charity? Accuracy? The failure of the hook in the ceiling and his falling? In the car, the carbon monoxide, the knock on the door? With the shot gun? His being interrupted, explaining this to his wife, his continued intentions?
  5. The neighbours, Mike and his exercise, friendliness? Anita, Ruben, falling out with them, the flashbacks about the car, their quarrel? Going to see Anita, her Parkinson’s, her son in Japan, selling the house? Otto with Reuben, Ruben in his wheelchair, silent? The news of the sale, the estate agent and Otto’s confrontation, preparing all the paperwork for saving the house?
  6. At the railway station, on the edge, the man having the heart attack, Otto helping him, the rescue, staying on the track, the helping hand and his being saved? Everybody photographing the incident with their phones? The photojournalist, the episode on line, the million followers? Her coming to visit him, his aggressive treatment of her? The irony of his setting up the estate agent, the confrontation, the journalist, filming everything?
  7. Marie Solon Tom, the first episode, trying to park the U-Haul, Otto and his exasperation, in the vehicle, discovering the two little girls? Marie’s soul and her livewire personality, Tom and his being slow, borrowing the latter, to open the window, his falling, in hospital, crutches? Mary saw pregnant? Her ability in managing things? Asking Otto to mind the children, his agreeing, reading, falling asleep? Driving her to the hospital? The driving lesson, in his car, brakes and clutch, almost crashing, his coming her down, success in driving?
  8. The paperboy, the bike, Otto’s lecturing him? The later encounter, trans-young man, his story, Tony sympathy, showing how to repair the bike? The young man and his story, rejection by his father, asking Otto for some help, accommodation, Otto agreeing? And later giving him his car?
  9. Mike, the exercises, friendly, helping Anita, the meals there? Helping in the house crisis?
  10. The flashbacks, the young Otto, his family, wanting to be an engineer, his studies, seeing Sophie on the station, dropping her book, changing station, in the train, returning the book, the guard and the ticket? The further meeting? Her personality, the restaurant, the kiss, the engagement, marriage, his graduation? The honeymoon in Niagara Falls? The accident, her injuries, hospital, in the wheelchair? The long years and her support? Her death?
  11. The humanising of Otto, with the family, with Anita and Ruben, with the trans-young man?
  12. Otto and his health, rejected for the Army, his big heart, the visits to the doctor? Is carrying on, getting everything in order, the letter to Marisol, giving away the car, helping Anita and Ruben, the reconciliation?
  13. Otto, his collapse, his death?
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