O’Horten (Bent Hamer, 2007): Norway | Germany | France posted in AFI Filmfest 2008, Films

Reviewed by, Hannah Ghioni. Veiwed at the AFI Film Festival, 2008.

The pure simplicity of this film is in my opinion what really made it work. I think many filmmakers have it wrong and think that it is essential to make films full of special effects and tend to go way over the top. O’Horten had an easy storyline and a witty and pleasant script. O’Horten is a retired bus driver that doesn’t really know what to do at this point in his life since his daily tradition is now broken. He stumbles across an old man laying on the street one evening and offers a cab home, which the man happily accepts. They ride home to the man’s house and it’s as if him and O’Horten become instant friends. The man educates O’Horten with tales of his life and provides him a good amount of food for thought. After convincing O’Horten that he can drive with his eyes closed, the two new friends and his dog hit the road with a blindfold. The man passes away at the steering wheel, and O’horten is left with a fresh sence of rebirth and is inspired to do the things in his life that he had given up on. It is a funny movie that is light and upbeat. The handshake that the guys at the train station does is classic!