A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN
Norway, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Stellan Skarsgaard.
Directed by Hans Petter Moland.
Response to A Somewhat Gentle Man will depend on a sense of humour. This is a very Scandinavian film, Norwegian black comedy. It focuses on an ex-convict, played vigorously by Stellan Skarsgaard, who emerges from prison, wants to start again – but also has a contract on the man responsible for putting him in prison.
He is a somewhat gentle man despite his reputation as a hit man. His criminal associates welcome him out of prison, set him up in a basement room (with a sex-starved grotesque landlady). He gets a job in a repair shop and the secretary there falls for him. He also visits his ex-wife, promises not to visit his son but does so and finds him and his fiancée living a happy life, she pregnant.
When the time comes, he does not kill the man after seeing him in a happy family situation. He finds out the truth about his gangster friend and is responsible for his death, the crushing of his car with him in it and his disappearance. While the fiancée does not want to see him because of his criminal background, while he is visiting she goes into labour and he is able to assist with the birth. It is that kind of film.
1.The title, serious and comic, Nordic, black?
2.Oslo and the city outskirts, prison, the rooms and basements, apartments, mechanic’s shop? The score?
3.Stellan Skarsgaard’s portrait of Ulrik? Emerging from prison, the effect of the twelve years, meeting Jensen and Rolfe, having the coffee, the revelation about Kenny? The room, Karen and her attitude, meals, blunt sex? The job, Sven and his eccentricities? Lectures? Merete and her being against any advances? Her changing her mind and response? Ulrik going to see his wife, the quickie? Kenny and his family and his visit, change of heart? Merete and the meal, the sexual encounter, Karen’s response? His lies about going to a conference? Going to Sven in hospital, the flowers and chocolates (and Sven being allergic)? Dancing with Merete? The job, the gun, the plan, his confrontation of Kenny, Kenny’s explanation? His son and his embracing him? The fiancée, anti, talking, the water breaking, helping with the delivery in the car, her happiness with the child, acknowledging Ulrik as grandfather? The killing of Jensen, the car being crushed? His future?
4.Jensen as smart, Rolfe as dumb, issues of money, blackmail, getting money from Kenny, the lies, the pressure on Ulrik to kill Kenny? The final confrontation and Jensen’s death, the crushing of the car?
5.Rolfe as a hanger-on, dumb, foil to Jensen?
6.Karen, her appearance, offhand manner, Sven’s ex-wife, her welcoming Ulrik reluctantly, the meals, conversation, blunt sex, her knowing the truth, disappointment?
7.Merete, working at the garage, her attitude towards Sven, towards Ulrik, change of heart, inviting him home, the night, the meals, the dancing?
8.Ulrik’s visit to his ex-wife, her stances, her infidelity the cause of his killing her lover, Kenny as the lover’s brother?
9.His son, going to visit him, the son and his interest in his father, his fiancée, pregnancy, her turning against Ulrik? The birth? The son having gone fishing – at his father’s advice?
10.A slice of Norwegian life? Funny, serious?
