Movie Review | A Man Called Otto: A poignant tale of love, life and death

The death of a spouse is one of the most agonising losses in life, as the survivor struggles to piece together fragments of their lives while enduring profound grief. ‘A Man Called Otto’, streaming on Netflix, tells the story of Anderson Otto, a grouchy old man, who is forced to retire early due to a heart ailment and plans to take his life after his wife Sonya dies of cancer since he feels he has no purpose in life. The film, a remake of the original film adaption of Fredrik Backman's novel ‘A Man Called Ove’, delivers a whiff of fresh air throughout its length, revealing the smothering side of melancholy with a sprinkle of mirth and humour, enabling viewers to weep one minute and laugh the next. Throughout the film, directed by Marc Forster, Otto's bitterness and gruff veneer are chipped away, only to be revealed and melted away by his acts of kindness, such as saving the life of an elderly and infirm, man who falls and tumbles down the railway tracks while the people around him film the incident rather insensitively, enraging Otto. While life can be severe and people can be inconsiderate, the film explores how grief can transform a person and how acts of kindness and generosity, such as Marisol baking and feeding grouchy Otto, Otto assisting a transgender youngster, or Otto assisting the Marisol-Tommy couple by resolving their trivial problems, can provide hope, courage, and love.