On Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society will screen A Somewhat Gentle Man at the Katharine Cornell Theatre at 54 Spring street in Vineyard Haven.

The movie stars Stellan Skarsgård in a comedy, of sorts, about a convict named Ulrik who has served the last 12 years in prison for murder. As the movie opens Ulrik is released from prison and if that doesn’t immediately strike you as something to laugh about, consider that Ulrik soon discovers his life was far easier on the inside than as a free man.

His family isn’t particularly happy to see him, they don’t really approve of murder, plus his old boss wants Ulrik to get back to work killing, in particular the snitch who ratted him out. But Ulrik is a sensitive mobster, or rather a “somewhat” sensitive one, and the clock is definitely ticking on his patience.

The key to the movie’s balancing act between comedy and drama is Mr. Skarsgård, a Swedish born actor who has been in, well, just about everything. In a way he could be considered a very good looking character actor judging by the enormity and diversity of his resume. High profile roles in Mama Mia and Pirates of the Caribbean are balanced by critical darlings like Breakin g the Waves and Insomnia. Later this year he will appear in the Hollywood remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.

Admission at the door is $8 or $5 for film society members. For more information, visit mvfilmsociety.com where you can also download the film society’s Oscar poll. The winner gets an all-access film festival pass to the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival next September.