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In Hans Peter Moland’s glumly humorous, sneakily moving Norwegian dramedy A Somewhat Gentle Man, a graying, ponytailed ex-con named Ulrik, played with droll aplomb by the always reliable Stellan Skarsgard, fumbles his way back into civilian life after 12 years in prison for manslaughter. He finds a job as a mechanic for a body shop owner (Bjorn Sundquist), who insists he be on time and stay away from oddly alluring office secretary Merete (Jannike Kruse). After finding a room in the basement of an aging, horny matron (a terrific Jorun Kjellsby), the sister of Ulrik’s former boss and petty crime running mate Jensen (Bjorn Floberg), Ulrik is given a pistol by Jensen in order to seek revenge against the man who testified against him more than a decade ago. The film’s tension hinges on whether he’ll return to a life of violence or be able to reestablish...

Hans Petter Moland's dark ex-con comedy is reminiscent of Anders Thomas Jensen's humour, the Danish director responsible for Adam's Apples and The Green Butchers...

After twelve years in prison for killing his wife's lover, Ulrik (Stellan Skarsgård) is reluctantly released to a daunting changed world. Reunited with his ex-gangster chum Jensen (Bjørn Floberg), Ulrik is encouraged to avenge his downfall by killing the guy who ratted on him. But Ulrik is more interested in earning his the respect of long-lost son Geir (Jan Gunnar Røise). Studying to be an electrical engineer, replete with a pregnant girlfriend and decorated flat, Geir represents the life Ulrik now wants for himself.

During the time Ulrik spent in prison, his crim buddies have abandoned their underworld lifestyles, and consequently aren't as tough or respected as before, although Jensen misguidedly kids himself: “I look after my people, Ulrik. If my people show weakness,...

Chances are, you've never seen a Norwegian film. Unlike other Nordic countries, Norway isn't exactly known as a cinematic powerhouse. Thanks to a simmering little film starring a Swedish actor, that may start changing. 

A Somewhat Gentle Man (En ganske snill mann) is a fair description of a small-time criminal released from prison after serving a 12-year sentence. Whatever he was in his pre-prison days, the now passive Ulrik (Stellan Skarsgård) has the opportunity to start his life over, only there isn't much of a life for him on the outside. He has no job, his wife left him, and his son is busy with a life of his own. Reliant on the charity of his old crime boss to find housing and gainful employment, Ulrik is not so much a broken man but a diminished one, a stranger in his own life. For all his passivity, Ulrik is the...

Reviewed at Fantastic Fest 2010.

Released from prison after serving 12 years for murder, Ulrik (Stellan Skarsgård) makes his own way into town. There's no one to pick him up. Everyone he looks up from his old life swears they thought he was getting out the next day or next month. The only one happy to see him is Rune (Bjørn Floberg), his old boss from his tough guy days, who's eager to have Ulrik pick up where he left off by killing the man who testified against him and put him in jail for murder -- not for any profit, really, just to prove Rune's not the type of fellow to be messed with.

"A Somewhat Gentle Man," directed by Hans Petter Moland, is an incredibly agreeable gangster movie, in part because Ulrik's not very interested in becoming a gangster again. Rune helps him get a day job as a mechanic...

Rating: 4/5

Writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson

Director: Hans Petter Moland

Cast: Stellan Skarsgard, Jannike Kruse, Jorunn Kjellsby, Bjorn Floberg

In tribute to the film itself, I’m making this opening paragraph of my A Somewhat Gentle Man review true (which should always be the case) and not complicated with unnecessary style or wordy window dressing – A Somewhat Gentle Man offers a simple premise, and with a subtle and assured hand plenty of humor and quiet heartbreak is brought out of its story of a man getting out of prison after 12 years and simply trying to live.

Read more on Fantastic Fest 2010 Review: A Somewhat Gentle Man…...

Once referred to as “the Ridley Scott of Norway" by film historian Peter Cowie, director Hans Petter Moland isn’t quite as prolific as his English counterpart but he is a talented dude. His last film, 2006’s Comrade Pedersen failed to make any major splashes internationally but it looks like Moland is forging ahead with a totally different tone. This time around, a comedy which is likely to bring him a little international love.

A Somewhat Gentle Man (“En ganske snill mann”) reteams Moland with Stellan Skarsgård who stars as the titular character except he’s not exactly “gentle” (at least his actions aren’t). Here’s what the official synopsis has to say:

Ulrik is a somewhat gentle man. He has no special wishes and makes no demands. He has killed some people and crippled a few. But this sort of stuff is part of the job when working in the criminal world.