The Ponder Room

100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window movie reminds about how to live life

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By on Giggles, Inspiration, life, Movies, Review, Writing

One of the aims of The Ponder Room is to help people get the most out of their lives and to profile people who already are. Allan Karlsson, the main character in the movie The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared, is the epitome of that sentiment. Not only has he lived to 100, but on his 100th birthday he escapes from his retirement village. This is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in years, and I really hope you get to see it.

 
Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

The movie is based on the international best seller by Jonas Jonasson, which sold more than 1.1. million copies in Sweden, went on to be published in 38 countries, and sell six million copies worldwide. When news got out that the book was being turned into a movie the expectations were high. How did director Flexi Herngren feel about that?

‘I’d rather shot a good movie with high expectations, than an unloved story without expectations,’ said Herngren. 
 

Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

Hergren came at the movie with a background in making hundreds of commercials. He’d been named the world’s fifth best commercial director.

The movie explores the life of Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson). As a child he liked blowing up things. As a 100 year old man he climbs out the window of his retirement home and embarks on an adventure that includes; a suitcase full of money, a series of lacklustre criminals, a hapless detective, an elephant and blowing up things.



Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

 

 
Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

Along the way we glimpse into Allan’s past which includes his involvement in many important events in the twentieth century. This includes comparing the dance styles of Franco, Stalin, Truman, Reagan, Gorbachev and the occasional explosion.  

Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

It’s as if Forrest Gump had ventured into Midsummer Murders or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Throughout the movie Allan imparts his wisdom, such as:

Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

‘Things are what they are and will be what they will be.’

‘Life is what it is and does what it does.’

Regret doesn’t undo what was done. Regret is no good without a time machine.’

‘The middle of nowhere is underrated.’ 

Herngren summed Allan up best by saying … 

‘Allan is doing what westerns should do. Do not worry about the future, use your gut instinct and do not fret over yesterday’s troubles. If a fraction of the audience takes some of this to heart from the film, I will be very pleased.’

 



Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

The characters are rich and wonderfully acted. Robert Gustafsson is superb as Allan, which is hardly surprising given that he has received the Golden Mask four times (i.e. named Sweden’s funniest man). The brilliant job by the makeup department also helps convince you that Allan is 100. 



Thanks to Studiocanal Australia

‘Robert was the only one who would do the role with credibility and comic timing. When we tested him in complete makeup in 2012, I felt he was a very good choice,’ said Herngren.
 
The movie left me with flashbacks for several days as I pondered:
  1. I was interested to read that the author, Jonasson, began his writing life as a journalist and after several years in the media industry he felt like a change. That was when the character of Allan came to him. The 100 Year Old Man … was his first novel. Imagine that.
  2. It is a wonderfully hilarious movie that unfortunately I can’t say much about as I don’t want to give anything away. I just hope it gets an extended viewing so lots of people see it.

I’m sure this movie will  be shown at most cinemas, at the moment it’s listed for
https://www.lunapalace.com.au

 
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