A Somewhat Gentle Man

Ulrik is a somewhat gentle man, as ex-convicts go. Having just served 12 years for a killing, he runs right from the prison gates into the arms of his old crime boss Jensen, who wants payback for getting monthly checks to Ulrik's ex-wife and son while he was away. In fact, Jensen insists that Ulrik bump off the guy who sent him to jail. But Ulrik's had enough of killing for now. He takes a job as a mechanic with a loquacious garage owner and finds a crummy apartment with a troll of a landlady. He tries to reconcile with his grown son and his son's girlfriend, who are about to have a baby. He serves as protector and bedmate to a young woman who works in the garage. He takes flowers and candy to his boss in the hospital. But meanwhile, Jensen is closing in and it doesn't look like he'll cut Ulrik any slack. Brilliant international actor Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd (“The Hunt for Red October,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Dogville,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) embodies the taciturn Ulrik, whose glum disposition brightens perceptibly as new opportunities present themselves in A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN. (In Norwegian with subtitles) –B.B.