Toni Erdmann
Few films manage to be both absurd and quietly devastating, but this one does. At heart it’s a story about a father trying, in the most outlandish ways possible, to reconnect with his daughter. A disguise, false teeth, and an alter-ego become his clumsy toolkit for cracking her corporate shell.
It’s also a film about not taking yourself too seriously — or at least what happens when you do. The daughter’s world of jargon and power plays is set against her father’s insistence on silliness, and somewhere in that clash comes a fragile truth: life is meant to be lived, not just managed.
Yes, it’s a little long, and a few character decisions seem questionable. But the payoff is remarkable — a film that is both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny, often in the very same scene. Toni Erdmann is a reminder that absurdity can sometimes get closer to honesty than seriousness ever could.
It’s also a film about not taking yourself too seriously — or at least what happens when you do. The daughter’s world of jargon and power plays is set against her father’s insistence on silliness, and somewhere in that clash comes a fragile truth: life is meant to be lived, not just managed.
Yes, it’s a little long, and a few character decisions seem questionable. But the payoff is remarkable — a film that is both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny, often in the very same scene. Toni Erdmann is a reminder that absurdity can sometimes get closer to honesty than seriousness ever could.
Mini Review: A father uses disguises, false teeth, and a daft alter-ego to reconnect with his daughter, piercing her corporate shell with silliness. Maren Ade’s drama is long and sometimes baffling, but the payoff is remarkable: a film that’s both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny, often in the same scene. Absurdity here feels truer than seriousness.
Watch the Trailer