Toni Erdmann
Winfried doesn't see much of his working daughter Ines. The suddenly student-less music teacher decides to surprise her with a visit after the death of his old dog. It's an awkward move because serious career woman Ines is working on an important project as a corporate strategist in Bucharest. The geographical change doesn't help the two to see more eye to eye. Practical joker Winfried loves to annoy his daughter with corny pranks. What's worse are his little jabs at her routine lifestyle of long meetings, hotel bars and performance reports. Father and daughter reach an impasse, and Winfried agrees to return home to Germany. Enter flashy "Toni Erdmann" - Winfried's smooth-talking alter ego. Disguised in a tacky suit, weird wig and even weirder fake teeth, Toni barges into Ines' professional life, claiming to be her CEO's life coach. As Toni, Winfried is bolder and doesn't hold back, but Ines meets the challenge. The harder they push, the closer they become. In all the madness, Ines begins to understand that her eccentric father might deserve some place in her life after all.
Director:
Maren Ade
Cast:
Peter Simonischek, Sandra Hüller, Michael Wittenborn
Screenplay:
Maren Ade
Screening Date:
Dec 17, 2016
Studio:
Sony Pictures Classics
Running Time:
2 hours 38 minutes
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.8% | 13.8% | 24.1% | 13.8% | 3.4% |
“Too long, but very creative. Real story of being human.”
“Too many long, silent pauses. This movie could have been edited to 1 1/2 hours for the same effect."
“Brilliant filmmaking ultimately, but often uncomfortable to watch – the father’s bumbling attempts to save his daughter from losing her humanity in search of success, the awkward bar scenes, and the extended nude scene. Rewarding but it takes some effort.”
“A tale for our times. Mindless pursuit of money leads to drugs, sex without love (or even touching) and a hollow life. Maybe we all need a Dad with funny teeth to remind us that laughter and family are priceless.”
“Quirky! A little too long and took a long time to show how a father wants his daughter to stop and smell the roses and don’t lose your humanity. Best moments - Toni in the bar and those teeth. Touching and funny. Wouldn’t recommend it with to people who don’t like such long movies. Has a definite European sensibility. Can see why it got those awards.”
“This is a wonderful movie. I loved the long takes to let the audience really absorb the feeling of the moment. The film asks us to do what the characters need to do to take time to understand what’s important.”
“Disaster!”
“I can understand the numerous international awards. Daughter and Father caught up in a parable of struggling for a salary and losing all sense of ethics and humanity. She lost her soul to the company store.”
“Maren Ade takes a lot of chances with her actors (and script, and direction) and they make the most of the opportunity. Father and daughter are brilliant in roles and performances you won’t see anywhere else. Bravo.”
“Certainly longer than it might (or should) have been, not only overall but in how individual scenes go on too long and even shots are held longer than any other film I’ve seen this year.”
