Life according to Otto | A man and his sin

After the death of his wife and the loss of his job, Otto, a lonely and cantankerous widower of 60, expects only one thing from life: death. So he wanders around his house, does security rounds in the neighborhood, yells at the residents… Until a couple with young children moves into the house next door.

Life According to Otto is a remake of the Swedish film En man som heter Ove, itself adapted from a best-selling novel by Fredrik Backman. A proven Hollywood formula, but here the result exceeds our expectations. This dramatic comedy, directed by veteran Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball), is both moving and heartwarming.

Tested by many hardships, unable to mourn his wife who died six months ago, Otto (Tom Hanks), a bitter and lonely grump, wants to end his life. His suicide attempts do not prevent him from annoying all his neighborhood, with his very rigid vision of co-ownership and the community. Until the day a family moves into the house next door. Meeting his new neighbours, mainly Marisol, a loving and generous Mexican mother, will change his daily life. And his view of the world.

Life According to Otto revisits a universal and predictable story: that of a totally unsympathetic being that love and, above all, perseverance will end up coaxing. This curmudgeon has a bigger heart than it looks. Flashbacks support the drama of Otto’s past. By explaining, in great detail, the reasons for his old anger against mankind. However, the script also adds more contemporary elements to the story, including the place of social media and transidentity.

The business is of course a luxury vehicle for Tom Hanks. The 66-year-old actor finds a paying role here, with which he offers a (very) honest performance. His face is dark for most of the movie. While that of Marisol (excellent Marina Treviño) remains as radiant as his first name.

Moreover, the film is released in theaters at a time of a pandemic when there are fears of isolation and psychological distress. Recently, the issue of suicide in fiction has surfaced in the news, after the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services advised teachers and librarians not to tell students about François Blais’ latest novel, fearing that reading it could lead to suicidal behavior in students. Life According to Otto proves just the opposite. In reality as in fiction, it is not by hiding human distress that one relieves the pain of living.

Drama

A Man Called Otto ( VOA)
Life According to Otto (VF)

Marc Forster

Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

2:06 a.m.
Indoors

7/10