I couldn't help thinking of Jacque Tati, especially in M. Hulot's Holiday--the minimal dialog, the ever-present pipe, the main character's wandering from place to place, even the way he walks. This was most noticeable when he couldn't find his way into the building and ended up in the little boy's room
shareI have always intended to see M. Hulot's Holiday, and your post got me off the dime to check it out. Yes, I do see what you are saying. There were some unmistakable similarities in character. Some of the surreal scenes (i.e. M. Hulot opening the door to the restaurant and allowing the wind to disturb everyone in the room) were also a part of O'Horten's story (i.e. the ski jump scene). Both characters were solitary, and impacted others without intending to do anything other than tend to their own selves. Thank you for pointing this out, it made me think of the movie in a larger way. Cheers!
shareSome of the perspectives, such as the woman through the window making cakes, the building where the little boy lived all wrapped up for construction work, the overhead view when the police find Trygve/Steiner, etc., also remind me of the Hulot films. The "main character's wandering from place to place" too.
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