O'Horten

Odd Horten, a 67-year-old train driver, is on the brink of retirement after spending forty years operating the train route between Oslo and Bergen. Each day, he follows a meticulous routine, preparing for his second-to-last journey to Bergen. Upon arrival, he engages in light conversation with Svea, the owner of the boarding house where he stays, aware that this could be one of their last interactions.

When he returns to Oslo, his colleagues host a farewell party, but Odd, being rather timid, finds himself overwhelmed by the spotlight. As the gathering moves to a co-worker’s apartment, an unfortunate incident leaves him accidentally locked out. In a moment of desperation, he climbs a scaffold to reach a window, only to find himself in the bedroom of a young boy. When the boy requests him to stay until he falls asleep, Odd unexpectedly dozes off first. Consequently, he oversleeps and misses his chance to drive the train on his final day, confronting him with a future filled with uncertainty.

A series of disjointed scenes unfold, beginning with a disheartening visit to his mother at a retirement home. Her senility and vacant gaze only deepen Odd’s despair, making him reflect on his own mortality. On another occasion at a restaurant, he witnesses police arresting the cook, and learns of the owner’s death at his regular tobacco shop. In a bid to change his stagnant life, Odd decides to sell his boat, leading to an unusual encounter when the prospective buyer, a man working at an airport, asks to meet inside the secure zone. His visit to the local swimming pool ends on a peculiar note when he discovers a pair of red high-heeled boots, which he ends up wearing as he leaves.

Fate intervenes when he stumbles upon another man his age, Trygve Sissener, who is sleeping in the snow. Their unplanned evening unfolds over drinks and deep discussions, prompting Odd to reflect on the choices and chances he has missed. He learns that his mother was once a daring ski jumper, while he always played it safe, leading him to feel a profound sense of disappointment toward himself.

The next morning, Sissener suggests a reckless adventure: driving while blindfolded. Surprisingly, the experience goes smoothly until tragedy strikes as Sissener pulls over and unexpectedly dies. Suddenly, Odd finds himself burdened with the responsibility of caring for Sissener’s dog, stirring in him a newfound urgency to embrace life.

As he climbs to the Holmenkollen ski jump, he envisions his mother as a lively young woman executing the jump. This moment of clarity ignites a decision within him. Stripping away his railwayman’s jacket for the first time, Odd ultimately rides the train once more to Bergen, where he finds Svea eagerly waiting for him at the platform, igniting the promise of a new beginning.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 12:25