CW: Suicide
At its core, this film seems full of clichés. Tom Hanks plays Otto, a grumpy old man set in his ways and grieving the recent loss of his wife. Mariana Treviño stars alongside him as Marisol, his quick-witted and kind-hearted new neighbour. As Otto attempts to end his life, Marisol quite literally annoys him back to life.
There is certainly no shortage of sentimental throwback montages in A Man Called Otto. The meet-cutes and first dates of young Otto’s love story are brought to life by none other than Tom Hanks’ son, Truman Hanks. Indeed it would be easy to throw words like ‘soppy’ and ‘cringe’ into this review, and I do not doubt that many viewers will see this film as nothing more than that. Personally, A Man Called Otto was an undeniably heartwarming watch. I would be lying if I said my friends and I didn’t share some looks at the slow, dreamlike imagery of Otto’s memories, but we also left the theatre with smiles on our faces. At the risk of falling into a cliché myself, I must say that I have a soft spot for films that make you feel like the world might not be such a cruel place after all.
Whilst A Man Called Otto is an uplifting watch, it also tackles a difficult theme: grief. Otto confesses that he was living for his wife, and in her absence, his life lost its meaning. The throwback montages and the clearly feminine belongings dotted through his house are painful reminders of his loss. The film really explores the notion that losing someone isn’t a moment; it’s a constant.
The gut-wrenching moments, however, are balanced with some genuinely laugh-out-loud comedy. A sleeping Otto reaching for his dead wife’s hand tugs on your heartstrings. When he later threatens to “dropkick” his bratty neighbour’s “rat” (in actual fact, a chihuahua), you can’t help but laugh. Spectacular performances from both leads bring immense amounts of emotion into this film. As usual, Tom Hanks doesn’t miss the mark, and Hollywood newcomer Treviño lights up the screen with every appearance — just as Marisol seems to light up Otto’s life. Their on-screen chemistry is commendable; the friendship between their two characters really comes to life.
Towards the end of the film, we learn that Otto suffers from a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — his heart is too big. It’s a sigh-worthy cliché for the most warm-hearted of us, but it rings true as we watch Otto find a new family in his neighbours. He lived for his wife, but now he has something new to live for.
In the midst of midterms and windy days, I leave you with an encouraging snippet from the film: “You’re sad. So am I. But now we have to live.”
Image Credit: “Sully Japan Premiere Red Carpet: Tom Hanks” by Dick Thomas Johnson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.