The Bothersome Man is a 2006 Norwegian film. The film is part horror and suspense. The other part is more cerebral. Not necessarily what might be considered a drama, but definitely a movie that makes you think. Somehow, in spite of the dark, heavy content, the film also has a skewered sense of humor.
Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) arrives at wind-blown service station in the middle of a barren wasteland. He is dressed in a suit and has let his beard grow out. He seems to have little memory of how he arrived at this place. The attendant directs Andreas to a nearby car and drives him to his apartment. The attendant tells Andreas that he will be working as an accountant. It seems that everything has been placed in order before his arrival. But where did he arrive from? And Why?
There is something strangely "Stepford" about this place. Everyone seems content, yet there is no color. Everyone dresses in formal clothing, but it all looks the same. There are no children or elderly people. Street sweepers constantly circle keeping the city sparkling clean. But the hot chocolate has no flavor. There is no music. Sex is an empty routine. The rote of Andreas existence makes him realize that he misses something. He misses a zest for life. He misses smells, and flavors...and the laughing of children.
Andreas doesn't fit in this world. He quickly rebels. Everyone else seems afraid to upset the balance of the established order except Andreas. No one has passion. Nobody sheds tears at the movies. It is a place that he must escape, even if that escape is death. When Andreas realizes he cannot kill himself, he strikes upon another idea, attempting vainly to reach a place where a sliver of music has managed to seep into his private hell. His efforts may only be rewarded with more suffering.
The Bothersome Man is a strange story. It is full of symbolism, allegories and strong visual meaning. The characters are important to the story, conveying a variety of personalities while maintaining a strange homogeneity. The story does readily not reveal its true character. It could be an examination of death and purgatory. It might also be an examination of being isolated while surrounded by other people. There are many ways the story could be parsed. The writers do an excellent job of creating the mood, while injecting an offbeat humor into the story that almost feels like a guilty pleasure at Andreas' expense. The story is slow to evolve, but interesting in its dynamics.
Aurvaag was amusing to me. His deadpan delivery gave the film its only color. He was humorous even when it seemed incongruous with his situation. His facial expressions told more of the story than the minimalist dialogue. His "wife" in the film was portrayed by Petronella Barker. Barker countered Aurvaag's deadpan with a casual ease that placed all things as equal in her mind. While the film centered on Andreas, her role helped demonstrate his thirst for passion which introduced meaning to the story.
The Bothersome Man is not rated. I would probably give it a PG-13, while the MPAA might opt for an R rating. There were two suicides in the film, which included one that was repeated over and over. The gore factor wasn't high throughout the film, but did have some graphic moments. There were three sex scenes, which were devoid of emotion and nudity. The film also seemed tense, with a dark undercurrent. Younger viewers won't "get" this film, so there is no need for them to see it, anyway. Teenage audiences and older should be able to handle this mildly objectionable subject matter. The film has a one hour, thirty-five minute run time.
I liked the feel of The Bothersome Man. It was dark, edgy, and eerily funny at times. The movie makes you stop to think. Where are they going with this? While it was slow at times, it provided an opportunity for reflection. But it also felt a bit tedious. The concept was unique and well executed. With solid performances,The Bothersome Man is definitely worth recommending. 7.5/10.