Review of A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010) by Jesse O — 25 Mar 2012

"A Somewhat Gentle Man" starts with Ulrik(Stellan Skarsgard), a man of little words, being released from prison after 12 years which he faces with no little reluctance. It is a little surprising considering he is quickly greeted by his old boss, Jensen(Bjorn Floberg), who sets him up with housing with Karen(Jorunn Kjellsby) where he is able to get a Polish channel on his old television.(This is also proof that there is simply no escaping 'Dancing with the Stars' but maybe he can tune in an Andrzej Wajda film.) And Ulrik is able to get a job quickly as an auto mechanic for Sven(Bjorn Sundquist) where Merete(Jannike Kruse) warns him to not even think of it. Well, maybe it has to do with Jensen telling him he has to repay his debts, starting with killing the witness who put him away.

In general, I have a theory that films will not mention when a protagonist has committed a murder for fear of losing sympathy which "A Somewhat Gentle Man" disproves in its own offbeat, deadpan and often amusing way.(Admittedly, that woman getting rudely dropped in a dumpster was not funny in any way.) Much of that goes towards the movie's central theme of adjustment and accpetance for ex-cons. But some of the plotlines actually feel more like digressions. And even with a subtle change of tone, the movie is simply too long for its slight aspirations. That's even with the always welcome and charismatic presence of Stellan Skarsgard who is entirely credible as a middle-aged sex symbol.