If you're lucky enough to live on Earth for a century, you're bound to have a story or two to tell, but very few stories begin at the 100 mark.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, based on the novel of the same name by Swedish author and journalist Jonas Jonasson, follows the unlikely tale of a centenarian who decides it’s not too late to start over. Desperate to avoid his 100th birthday party, Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson) climbs out the window in his room at a nursing home and heads to the nearest bus station, intending to travel as far as the money in his pocket will take him.
A spur-of-the-moment decision to steal a suitcase from a fellow passenger launches Allan on a strange and unforeseen journey involving, among other things, some nasty criminals, a very large pile of cash and an elephant named Sonya.
As Allan climbs out of a window he sets into motion a series of events that land him in the midst of a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey. Gangs of criminals, murderers, a suitcase stuffed with cash, an elephant and an incompetent policeman are all caught up in the adventure of a lifetime, to anyone but Allan that is.
The 100-year-old man has witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, and has actually played a key role in some of them. Although Allan is completely uninterested in politics and religion, he seems to have affected most of the last century's major world events like helping invent the atomic bomb and becoming good friends with everyone from U.S. presidents to Russian tyrants.
For a hundred years Allan Karlsson did rattle the world, and now he's on the loose again.
Series Tickets are $38 for members and students, $44 for non-members and pre-purchased single tickets are $13 each available at the Penticton Art Gallery, 199 Marina Way, 250-493-2928, and The Book Shop 242 Main St., 250-492-6661.
The film will be screened Jan. 22 at the Landmark 7 Cinema, 250 Winnipeg St. Showtimes are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.