Stellan Skarsgaard (looking quite different from his ubrane Dragon Tattoo days) plays a convict being released after 12 years for murder. He is greeted by his old "mob" who have taken care of his wife and son and have arranged to have him taken care of with a job and place to stay. Once Stellan settles into the stark work laid out for him it's not much different than the life he left. He finds himself in three sexual relationships of which two are "uncomfortable". These are really funny scenes to the film. The dialog is sparse and often surprising poking a giggle or two out of the viewer.
Stellan is assigned to murder the man who fingered him for killing his brother who just happened to be sleeping with Stellan's ex-wife. His gang is depending on him to settle accounts and he reluctantly plods forward with this mission until he meets his son who told everyone he was dead. Once that happens there is an uptick in his outlook and presumes not up for the planned homicide much to the angst of his mob mates.
This film works on through to a happier ending than thought possible and is filled with a lot of comedic moments in the Scandinavian vein. This is part comedy, drama, tragedy with giggles. Worth a see.
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Topic - "A Somewhat Gentle Man": Getting out of the joint ain't always easy. - mr grits 23:42:11 01/09/12 (0)