O’Horten (Bent Hamer, 2007): France | Germany | Norway

O’Horten, at once charmingly simple and deeply moving, is the best film that I saw at the AFI Film Festival. The winner of two festival awards in Europe, this film has what it takes to be a successful commercial release. All audiences, from the young to the elderly, would enjoy O’Horten.

Set in modern Norway, O’Horten tells the story of Odd Horten (played by Bård Owe), a recently retired locomotive engineer who doesn’t have a clue what to do with himself after his last day on the job. In his quest for something to do, lonely old Odd runs into all sorts of trouble.

Utterly enchanting and poignantly funny, O’Horten takes the audience through the last leg of a sweet, smart, and spry, yet utterly lonely, 67 year old’s life, one that he has been satisfied with and proud of until his retirement. (The retirement party is an especially touching moment in the film. The “send-off” the other engineers give Odd absolutely warms the soul, even on a frozen Norway winter night.) Upon his retirement, Odd finds himself tossed into a series of misadventures that leaves him scratching his head and us laughing in only the most adoring way.

I cannot say enough good things about this film. The opening scene is captivating, the ending is deeply moving, and everything in between is delightful in every way. I don’t want to give anything away, so please, for heaven’s sake, go see it already! I guarantee you won’t regret it.