A Man Called Ove
Despite being deposed as president of his condominium association, grumpy 59-year-old Ove continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist. When pregnant Parvaneh and her family move into the terraced house opposite Ove and she accidentally back into Ove’s mailbox, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life.
The film earned $30.7M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Man Called Ove (2015) reveals precise story structure, characteristic of Hannes Holm's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ove
Parvaneh
Sonja (Young)
Rune
Anita
Patrick
Adrian
Young Ove
Main Cast & Characters
Ove
Played by Rolf Lassgård
A grumpy 59-year-old widower with strict principles who is repeatedly prevented from committing suicide by his new neighbors.
Parvaneh
Played by Bahar Pars
A pregnant Iranian immigrant who moves in next door and gradually breaks through Ove's hardened exterior with her persistence.
Sonja (Young)
Played by Ida Engvoll
Ove's beloved late wife, shown in flashbacks as a vibrant teacher who taught him to love and live.
Rune
Played by Börje Lundberg
Ove's former best friend and neighbor, now suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Anita
Played by Chatarina Larsson
Rune's devoted wife who struggles to care for him as authorities push for his institutionalization.
Patrick
Played by Tobias Almborg
Parvaneh's well-meaning but inept husband who can't drive or handle basic tasks.
Adrian
Played by Keven Yakut
A young man living in his car after coming out as gay, taken under Ove's reluctant wing.
Young Ove
Played by Filip Berg
Ove as a young man in flashbacks, showing his formative years and romance with Sonja.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ove prepares for suicide by hanging in his living room, showing his isolated, joyless existence after his wife's death.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when New neighbors (Parvaneh, Patrick, and daughters) move in next door, immediately disrupting Ove's plans by backing into his mailbox and demanding his help.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ove agrees to teach Parvaneh to drive, actively choosing to engage with life and help someone rather than isolate himself. First genuine commitment to another person., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Ove rescues a man from the train tracks, becoming a local hero. False victory: he's reconnecting with life, but hasn't confronted his grief or the threat to his friend Rune., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Rune is taken away by the white shirts despite Ove's efforts. Ove collapses in grief, experiencing the same helplessness he felt when he couldn't protect Sonja. Death of hope., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Parvaneh interrupts, reveals she's pregnant, and breaks down. Ove realizes he's needed not to save others from death, but to help them live. He chooses life and community., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Man Called Ove's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping A Man Called Ove against these established plot points, we can identify how Hannes Holm utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Man Called Ove within the comedy genre.
Hannes Holm's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Hannes Holm films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. A Man Called Ove represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hannes Holm filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Hannes Holm analyses, see The Anderssons in Greece: All Inclusive, The Anderssons Rock the Mountains and The Anderssons Hit the Road.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ove prepares for suicide by hanging in his living room, showing his isolated, joyless existence after his wife's death.
Theme
Parvaneh tells Ove, "You saved my life" after the car backing incident. Theme: human connection saves us from death (literal and metaphorical).
Worldbuilding
Flashbacks establish Ove's routine-driven life, his deceased wife Sonja, his conflicts with neighbors, his forced retirement, and his rigid principles. We see why he wants to die.
Disruption
New neighbors (Parvaneh, Patrick, and daughters) move in next door, immediately disrupting Ove's plans by backing into his mailbox and demanding his help.
Resistance
Ove resists involvement with Parvaneh and neighbors. Each suicide attempt is interrupted. Flashbacks show young Ove meeting Sonja on a train, establishing the love that shaped him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ove agrees to teach Parvaneh to drive, actively choosing to engage with life and help someone rather than isolate himself. First genuine commitment to another person.
Mirror World
Parvaneh insists on driving Ove to the hospital and bringing him food, establishing their relationship as the thematic counterpoint: warm chaos vs. cold order, connection vs. isolation.
Premise
Ove helps neighbors despite himself: teaching Parvaneh to drive, fixing radiators, befriending the cat, confronting bullies. Flashbacks show his romance with Sonja and how love opened his rigid world.
Midpoint
Ove rescues a man from the train tracks, becoming a local hero. False victory: he's reconnecting with life, but hasn't confronted his grief or the threat to his friend Rune.
Opposition
The white shirts (bureaucrats) pressure Anita to put Rune in a home. Ove's past trauma resurfaces: flashbacks reveal the bus accident that paralyzed Sonja. His inability to save her haunts him.
Collapse
Rune is taken away by the white shirts despite Ove's efforts. Ove collapses in grief, experiencing the same helplessness he felt when he couldn't protect Sonja. Death of hope.
Crisis
Ove prepares for suicide again in the garage. He writes farewell letters, ready to give up. His dark night: believing he's failed everyone he loved.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Parvaneh interrupts, reveals she's pregnant, and breaks down. Ove realizes he's needed not to save others from death, but to help them live. He chooses life and community.
Synthesis
Ove fully embraces community: helps Parvaneh, resolves conflicts, reconciles with neighbors, opens his home. Visits Sonja's grave with peace. Dies naturally surrounded by chosen family.
Transformation
Ove's funeral is packed with neighbors and community. Parvaneh names her son after him. The grumpy isolate became the heart of his community, dying loved rather than alone.