Review of A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010) by Thomas W — 11 May 2011

This is a satisfyingly odd, little Norse film ... and Norse films don't get much recognition stateside even as its neighboring Sweden has had quite a few high-profile releases over the last couple of years (Let the Right One In, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series etc).

Stellan Skarsgard (Pirates of the Caribbean, Momma Mia!, Angels & Demons) stars as Ulrik, who is the somewhat gentle man of the title. Ulrik has just been reluctantly released from prison after serving 12 years for murder.

He is uncertain with how he wants to progress in life and his various relationships with his estranged wife and son, his former friends, his gangster/thug co-workers etc. He was ratted-out 12 years ago and his gangster pals expect Ulrick to get even and settle that score by killing the snitch; but Ulrick quickly makes other plans when he discovers that his son's wife is expecting his first grandchild! Ulrick is conflicted as he wants to become a solid, respectable part of his son's life .

.. although the young wife wants nothing to do with a violent murderer and fears his presence. Ulrik is constantly nagged by his "friend" Jensen to get even and pay him back (Jensen supported Ulrik's wife and child when Ulrik was in the joint) and it is his constant attempts at persuasion that keeps Ulrik even considering offing another human being (he believes he has paid his debt to society after killing the man who was having an affair with his very own wife).

It is a layered story (not-too-complicated) full of eccentric and drab characters. Some of the situations and scenarios are unbelievably strange ... Ulrik's "payments" to his new land-lady are eye-poppingly weird (credit these bizarre scenes to the film's director).

Ulrik is a somewhat gentle man and he is pushed and prodded here and there. He is told what to do and when to do it. He is a puppet to some and he can handle a lot of pressure that is put upon him; but we must remind ourselves that he is only somewhat gentle.

The film's finale is satisfying and this is where the "somewhat" comes into play. A Somewhat Gentle Man has some heady/heavy plot points; but it is all handled with a slight ease that never allows it to feel burdensome -- and Skarsgard is great.

This is a somewhat strange, subtitled piece of work -- take that as either somewhat of a warning or somewhat of an invitation.