This is a somewhat gentle deadpan comedy that takes its time to draw you in. Set in the outskirts of a bleak town in Norway, it is the story of Ulrik a middle-aged murderer just released from prison, whose attempts at becoming a reformed man are thwarted by Jensen, his former gang boss who is insistent that he exacts revenge on the Snitch who put him away. Fenton fixes everything for Ulrik. First a place to a live: a dingy basement storage room in the house of his older sister who trades food for sex, both looking equally un-appetizing but the latter is so hilarious they are sublime comic highlights. And he fixes Ulrik up with a job in Garage run by a most ridiculous little man who can only talk with non-stop outpourings of platitudes.
Dealing with the past is not easy. Ulrik’s estranged son is now grown up and about to be a father but his girlfriend doesn’t look to kindly on the sudden arrival of the scene of a murderer for a father-in-law. And Ulrik’s ex wife is not much more welcoming although she does offer him a quickie for old times sake.
In fact everything about this scenario, including the oddball people, is rather grey and seedy, yet despite all this, what takes shape is a delightful and insightful deliciously droll treat of a comedy. Stellan Skarsgard gives a pitch perfect performance and really commits you to wanting Ulrik to succeed, so that when he does at the end, you are so happy too.
It well deserves a somewhat gentle crowd to appreciate it.
★★★★★★★
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