O'Horten

Odd Horten, a 67-year-old gentleman of habit, stands at the precipice of retirement after four decades as a train driver on the Oslo-Bergen route. As he rises from his daily slumber, he embarks upon a meticulous routine, meticulously preparing for his penultimate journey to Bergen, where he will bid farewell to Svea, the proprietor of the boarding house that has been his home away from home. The impending separation weighs heavily on him as they engage in cordial conversation.

Meanwhile, back in Oslo, Odd's colleagues gather to bid him adieu, but this timid soul is overwhelmed by the attention. As the party migrates to a coworker's abode, he finds himself accidentally locked out and, driven by desperation, ascends a precarious scaffolding in an attempt to reach the apartment window. Instead, he stumbles into the sanctum of a young boy, who kindly invites him to wait while he drifts off to sleep. Unbeknownst to them both, Odd succumbs to fatigue first, only to awaken too late to claim his place at the helm of the train that marks the end of his working life. Standing alone on the platform, he is beset by a sense of emptiness and disorientation, with nothing but the void of retirement stretching out before him.

As the narrative unfolds, the sequence of events becomes increasingly blurred. Odd pays a visit to his mother at her assisted living facility, only to be struck by the poignancy of her senile state, gazing blankly into the distance as she awaits the inevitable passage of time. The somberness of this encounter serves as a harsh reminder of Odd's own mortality. Later, while dining at a local eatery, he witnesses the arrest of the chef by authorities. At his favorite tobacco shop, he learns of the owner's passing, prompting him to reconsider the fate of his beloved boat. A series of misadventures ensues when he agrees to meet the prospective buyer at an airport, only to find himself navigating the complexities of a secure zone. In another moment of whimsy, Odd stumbles upon a pair of vibrant red high-heeled boots at the local swimming pool and, driven by a sense of curiosity, decides to walk away in them, leaving behind the remnants of his ordinary life.

As fate would have it, Odd encounters Trygve Sissener, a man who embodies spontaneity and carefree spirit, lying fast asleep in the snow-covered streets. The two strangers strike up an unlikely friendship over whiskey-fueled conversations at Sissener's cozy abode, leading Odd down a path of introspection and self-discovery. It becomes clear that his mother, a free-spirited individual with a passion for ski jumping, had always encouraged him to take risks and live life to the fullest. However, Odd had never mustered the courage to try the sport himself, feeling as though he was letting her down by playing it safe.

The following morning, Sissener suggests an unconventional activity - driving blindfolded. To their surprise, the stunt is a resounding success, with Sissener effortlessly navigating the roads. But just as Odd begins to feel a sense of liberation, tragedy strikes when Sissener's life comes to an abrupt end. With his friend's passing, Odd is left grappling with not only grief but also the responsibility of caring for Sissener's loyal canine companion.

As he navigates this newfound burden, Odd feels an overwhelming sense of urgency to live life on his own terms. He sets his sights on the iconic Holmenkollen ski jump, where a vivid vision of his mother as a young woman takes shape before him. This epiphany sparks a profound change within Odd, and he finds himself mustering the courage to take the leap - literally. Without his trusty railwayman's jacket to hold back, Odd takes the train to Bergen, where Svea awaits his arrival on the platform with an unmistakable smile of joy.