By Rama Gaind.
Director: Marc Forster, Sony Pictures.
Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) plays the role of a grumpy widower, Otto Anderson, who is very set in his ways and no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all.
He’s the protagonist – a retired 60-year-old widower whose only objective in life seems to be harassing his neighbours and anyone else who crosses his path. He gets through his retired life by alienating people, being critical and judgmental about them, their pets, children and everyone he comes across, making snide remarks at mail carriers.
Then his perspective is challenged, and his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door. That’s when he meets his match in quick-witted and pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño, Club de Cuervos), which leads to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside-down. Otto’s monotonous and lonely life takes a new turn as he’s encouraged to live differently.
The comedy-drama film is directed by German-Swiss filmmaker, Marc Forster. A BAFTA-nominated director, Forster is best known for his earlier projects like Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball, The Kite Runner, Quantum of Solace, World War Z.
The film also stars Rachel Keller (Fargo), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven), Truman Hanks and Mike Birbiglia (Trainwreck). The screenplay is written by Academy Award-nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004).
It is based upon the best-selling novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, and the film A Man Called Ove by Hannes Holm. The film is produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.
Get ready to experience a funny, hopeful, heart-warming story about how some families come from the most unexpected places.
- A Man Called Otto is in cinemas on 1 January 2023
