Background info

Title: The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared Director: Felix Herngren Year: 2013 Run time: 1hr 54m

“After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. In one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works but Allan really isn’t interested and decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant.”

Live blog

2:32 - That’s a heck of away to deal with a fox! 5:35 - Like the music. Jaunty but kinda intimidating at the same time. 7:34 - He was just doing as he’s told and now he’s stolen a bag. 8:12 - All these people screaming Allan, it’s like that meme. 10:55 - “He was always thinking for no good reason.” 17:46 - All the monies. 23:19 - It’s weird to hear a Cockney accent in the middle of all this Scandinavian joy. 26:37 - “I like the booming.” 29:50 - Oh yea, films like this make me remember how shocking my history knowledge is. 38:28 - “The middle of nowhere is underrated.” 47:49 - Woah, atomic bomb. 53:09 - Submarine! 55:05 - Ha, totally forgot about Sonja. 1:01:36 - Benny is a lot of fun. Almost this, almost that. 1:06:41 - This must be what it’s like for Mr C living with me. Bless Herbert Einstein. 1:12:10 - “This is a threat!” 1:14:32 - A melon isn’t really a vegetable is it? 1:21:22 - “Suddenly I was a double agent.” These things happen. 1:28:57 - Note to self, having an elephant as a passenger increases stopping distance. 1:39:13 - Elephant on a plane. That’s a whole other film.

Conclusions

I really enjoyed the book and hadn’t realised it had been made into a film, so was keen to see what the big screen adaptation was like. Big, bright and colourful, I thought it made a fabulous movie, dragging the viewer through all the crazy adventures and yet making it all seem entirely believable.

Allan Karlsson treads a fine line between not being such a great person but also having a really inspiring outlook on life. The characters he meets along the way are also fun and interesting, particularly Benny who is a perpetual student without really doing anything with his life. And there’s an elephant! What else could you wish for? Occasionally a bit graphic, the disembodied head was a surprise, but mostly a bold and brilliant endeavour. Totally recommended.

Rating: 5/5.