O'Horten

PG-13

Released May 22, 2009

1h 29m

Comedy

Drama

List

90%

Tomatometer

84 Reviews

63%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

At the age of 67, Odd Horten (Baard Owe) is forced to retire from his longtime job as a train engineer. Having lived nearly his whole adult life in the shadow of the railyard, he finds it difficult to adjust to his new life. After a series of strange encounters that unsettle his mood even further, Odd Horten finally meets an elderly stranger who may just give him the courage to try something new.

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Critics Consensus

Bent Hamer's latest is a droll, deadpan comedy filled with strange touches and melancholy charm.

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Keith Uhlich

Time Out

Cinema as a mass-manufactured snow globe.

Rated: 2/6

Nov 16, 2011

Full Review

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

It's a film whose pleasures come slowly, as we, like the title character, discover the joys he's missed. Best of all, we, like Odd the Norwegian bachelor, figure out it is never too late to start living.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 23, 2009

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Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Hamer creates a quirky, beguiling, and very funny mood piece that reflects on age, adventure, uncertainty, and humanity. Owe gives the character of Horten an off-center dignity that will suggest comparisons to Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton

Aug 23, 2009

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

In years to come, I would not be surprised if this droll Norwegian comedy is hailed as a minimalist masterpiece.

Feb 3, 2018

Full Review

Martin Tsai

Critic's Notebook

"O'Horten" only really works when Odd encounters the assorted oddballs; elsewhere the film travels a bit too light.

Oct 7, 2015

Full Review

Mike Edwards

What Culture

It entertains from start to finish and tells a story that is not just fun but in its inimitably gentle way has something to teach us all as well.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 1, 2011

Full Review

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dave s

Odd Horten has worked as a train engineer for almost forty years and is recognized by his colleagues and superiors as being an exemplary employee. However, after being presented with an odd departing gift and an even odder retirement party, Horten is forced to live his life outside the tight quarters of his engineer compartment. Much like Odd Horten himself, O'Horten is deliberate and methodical in its approach to one man coming to terms with what life has to offer him. Director Bent Hamer allows the camera, for much of the time, to remain motionless and allows the action to play out in front of the passive eye of the lens. The characters are all immensely likeable and the scenarios that are presented, despite being unlikely, are all somehow believable. While the languid pacing may not be for all tastes, O'Horten is a journey worth taking for those willing to go on the ride.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It is better than "Kitchen Stories". Cinematography and music are superb! Some weird parts. Good characters and acting. Memorable environment. Good foreign film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A retired railroad engineer takes a personal journey, and you will want to join him.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nice Norwegian subtle comedy. A train driver has a life crisis as his retirement approaches

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Never in anyone's wildest dreams could this be described as a comedy. The poster is the funniest thing about it! One of the slowest, most tiresome, depressing films I've ever seen, I kept thinking I must be missing something somewhere. This can't really be it. The music was sort of ok, nothing was offensive and the subtitles were easy to read, but that's as good as it got. 5/10

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

'O' stands for Odd, the lead characters first name, and which sort of typifies this quirky, mysterious little film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Bent Hamer

Director

Baard Owe

Odd Horten

Espen Skjonberg

Trygve Sissener

Henny Moan

Svea

Bjørn Floberg

Flo

Kai Remlov

Steiner Sissener

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Synopsis

At the age of 67, Odd Horten (Baard Owe) is forced to retire from his longtime job as a train engineer. Having lived nearly his whole adult life in the shadow of the railyard, he finds it difficult to adjust to his new life. After a series of strange encounters that unsettle his mood even further, Odd Horten finally meets an elderly stranger who may just give him the courage to try something new.

Director: Bent Hamer
Screenwriter: Bent Hamer
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $301.9K
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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