A big thing that hit me about A Man Called Ove was the fact that,even when things are going okay or better than usual, he’s one bad event away from suicide. Ove’s grief for his wife is always present, but what drives him to make attempts on his life are isolated events, like being laid off. This was more prominent in the later part of the film. Ove bonds with his new neighbors and reconnects with some of his old ones, but reaches for his gun when he finds out that his friend will be moved to a nursing home. This issue is eventually sorted out, with the help of a reporter, but the ease with which Ove loses what hope he gained feels realistic.

All that aside, I found Ove to be a very relatable character. His actions reminded me of my own crankiness and strict adherence to rules. Fortunately, I don’t have his tragic background, but seeing some of my qualities reflected in him helped me connect and engage more with the story. There’s also something entertaining about him and Rook chasing people through the complex, or him pulling out a notebook to inform Rook’s wife that they borrowed his hose and he wants it back. For a movie about depression and suicide, there are a lot of heartwarming and light moments, which I think is important. Being depressed isn’t necessarily about being stuck in dark and gloomy headspace all the time.