What kind of film would Forrest Gump be if it were re-imagined by the Swedes nearly two decades later? If adapted for the big screen from the best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson, it would be a silly, light-hearted comedy. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is named Allan Karlsson, and he is a lot like Forrest, except that Allan doesn't lack intelligence. He lacks care, learning at a young age, “life is what it is.” Instead of settling down in his twilight years, Allan (played by Robert Gustafsson) sets off on yet another unintentional, high-octane adventure.
On the eve of his 100th birthday, Allan lands in a nursing home after detonating a bomb in the shed behind his house. The centenarian climbs out of the window and heads to the bus stop with enough cash for a one-way ticket to a nearby town. While waiting for the bus, Allan has an encounter with a young thug, whose suitcase he absentmindedly steals. Unbeknown to Allan, the man is a member of a dangerous motorcycle gang and the suitcase is filled entirely with Euro banknotes of dubious origin. Allan is then pursued by the gang, as well as a detective investigating his disappearance. Allan isn’t alone for long, he makes quirky friends along the way.
The movie also tells the parallel story of Allan’s younger years. He has had a life-long predilection for exploding bombs, and as a child winds up in a mental institution after accidentally committing murder. Far from tragic, this turn of events sets an unwitting Allan on the course of a life filled with adventure and intrigue through several key moments in 20th century history. Allan's love of explosives finds him influencing historical events, engaging on both sides of the Spanish Civil War, mingling with Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin, and taking part in the Manhattan Project to name a few.
While there are certainly laugh-out-loud moments, the story has some uniquely Scandinavian elements and humor that are lost in translation. The story, although ambitious, becomes quite convoluted. Nonetheless, the highest-ever grossing film in Sweden is a popcorn picture that maintains its charm throughout. Life is what it is after all, and The 100-Year-Old Man invites us to never stop seeking new experiences, no matter how old we are.
