Warning: This post contains major spoilers for A Man Called Otto. It also includes mentions of attempted suicide, so please proceed with that in mind.The A Man Called Otto ending is a happy one, with Otto finally realizing the value of community and his purpose in life. Written by David Magee and directed by Marc Forster, A Man Called Otto follows in the footsteps of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, which is an adaptation of Fredrick Backman’s 2012 novel of the same name. Starring Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson, the grouchy man who is frustrated about almost everything, A Man Called Otto was released in limited theaters December 30 and will have a nationwide theatrical run beginning January 13.
Now available on Netflix, the drama/comedy was in an interesting position at the end of 2022, having swooped in at the last second for an awards run, with Tom Hanks entering the ring for a potential lead actor nomination. Though A Man Called Otto was ignored at the Oscars, its success was clear even without the awards love. As for A Man Called Otto itself is a heartwarming one despite Otto’s suicide attempts, and maintains its lighthearted tone up until its final scene. Otto may have been grouchy and seemingly hated people for a while, but A Man Called Otto’s ending showed just how much of a softie he actually was on the inside.
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What Happened At The End Of A Man Called Otto?
After keeping Marisol at arm’s length for the majority of A Man Called Otto, Tom Hanks’ grumpy character finally opens up to her about what happened with his wife Sonya, why he was kicked out of the homeowners' association, and how despondent he has been since Sonya passed away before A Man Called Otto began. Through Marisol, Otto came to realize that he was still very much needed and wanted. And though he only had a certain amount of time to live due to his heart condition, Otto was going to live it no matter what.
With the help of his neighbors, Otto was also able to prevent Dye & Merica from illegally forcing Anita and Reuben out of their home. The community worked together to ensure their future was safe and that corporations like Dye & Merica couldn’t swoop in and take over with their real estate ventures. Otto lived for another year or so before dying, leaving Marisol and her family with his car and house, leaving the world in more peace than he’d felt in a long time.
Why Otto Withdrew From His Friends & Neighborhood
Otto took Sonya’s death pretty hard. Before she passed, Otto would have dinners with Anita, Reuben, and Jimmy; the Scrooge-like character also had a more pleasant disposition. Otto withdrew from his neighbors — and from life in general — mainly due to Sonya’s death, but he also felt that nothing was really worth putting in an effort for anymore. Otto already knew he was dying, and the neighborhood didn’t feel the same. He’d fought long and hard for many things, but not much changed, and he was tired of putting in the effort.
The grieving man thought it easier to push people away than to allow his friends to help him through the grieving process. What’s more, Otto didn’t really have a buffer with Sonya gone, and so he struggled to care about anyone else’s problems. His actions proved otherwise, but it’s possible Otto wanted to be more checked out of life than he actually felt. Tom Hanks’ character also dreaded living without Sonya by his side, and he likely felt guilty for feeling any joy if he continued hanging out with his neighbors the way he used to with her.
Why Dye & Merica Is Trying To Drive Out Otto & His Neighbors
Dye & Merica was scoping out Otto’s neighborhood because the company wanted to push people out of their homes to build higher-priced condos. The real estate developer is participating in what is called a tear down, in which developers attempt to buy out current residents so that the company can tear down the old homes and build new ones that would attract homebuyers with money to spend. Dye & Merica was doing just that in the hopes that the new homes the company builds will yield them more money and be worth at least three times more than the old houses Otto and his neighbors live in.
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Will Otto’s Neighborhood Stay Around For Good?
Otto, Marisol, and the rest of his neighbor characters in A Man Called Otto managed to thwart Dye & Merica from taking their homes. However, it’s possible the real estate company and other corporations will circle back in the future in a bid to forcefully remove people from their homes. Such companies can be relentless in getting what they want. There’s no guarantee the small suburban neighborhood will remain untouched forever, but so long as the community is in communication with one another and stands together as a whole, they will likely be able to keep their homes and neighborhood intact for years to come.
The Real Meaning Of A Man Called Otto’s Ending
A Man Called Otto ouches upon relatable subjects including the ways in which grief can change someone, and how one can find strength, hope, and love in community. Otto is lonely for much of the film, namely due to the death of his wife, but he doesn’t realize just how much he is loved and appreciated by his neighbors, nor the positive effect he has had on them for years. The film adaptation amplifies the need for community, and how a sense of belonging within such a fellowship is one of the keys to happiness and improved mental health. Otto realizes he needs his neighbors just as much as they need him.
A Man Called Otto also shows how the strength of community can offset corporate greed. The devastation to Otto’s suburban neighborhood would have been horrific, but neighbors working together towards the same goal is powerful. What’s more, the film is all about Otto finding a sense of purpose in helping his neighbors, and it helps him enjoy the time he has left, and to not take life or the people in it for granted — no matter what happened between them in the past.
Is A Man Called Otto Based On A True Story & Does That Impact The Ending?
The A Man Called Otto ending is bittersweet and concludes the simple story in a fitting way that led some viewers to wonder if the movie was based on a true story. A Man Called Otto is not based on a true story as it is drawn from the Swedish movie A Man Called Ove and the novel of the same name by Fredrik Backman. However, Brackman did draw some inspiration from real-life for the story. He explained (via NY Times) that it started with him reading an article about a man named Ove who lost his temper in public at a ticket kiosk. Brackman's wife said the story sounded like him and Brackman admitted he "is not great at talking to people."
This aspect of real-life drawn on for the movie perfectly shows the simple victory that is achieved at the end of A Man Called Otto. Otto is not a bad person or in need of real redemption, he just needs to communicate better, have more patience, and consider the feelings of others. Even though taking on the greedy corporation is key to the climax, the end of A Man Called Otto is really just a man learning how to talk to people.
- Movies
- A Man Called Otto (2022)
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