Cinema
Highly commended: “Toni Erdmann” comes out in theaters
In Cannes, the Comedy darling of the public. Maren Ade succeeded with “Toni Erdmann” a smart and sensitive masterpiece. The best German movie since a Long time, writes Scott Roxborough.
After “The forest for the trees” (2003) and “All other” (2009), two social dramas, the knife dissect sharply the personal relationships between the characters, the Director, Maren Ade the Comedy. From the reunion of a father with his daughter, is estranged from him, but just as unhappy as he is, makes Ade a hilarious cinematic masterpiece.
Maren Ades by hand at Comic shimmered in her two previous movies again and again. However, “Toni Erdmann” goes much further. The Film alternates between high-School boy Humor (whoopee cushions and silly costumes included), brutally realistic observations about sexism in the workplace, and uncommonly delicate representations of the (Non-)communication between parents and children. According to all the rules of cinema this Film is not likely to actually work – and he does it in a magnificent way.
Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek in “Toni Erdmann”
Father-Daughter-Conflict
The two main characters of the film could not be more different. Father Winfried (Peter Simonischek) is a shaggy, chaotic music teacher who has now scared also his last piano students. Nevertheless, Winfried has preserved its oblique, sometimes adolescent sense of Humor. He loves to play pranks, to dress up himself and his colleagues or even the postman tidy up. His preferred alter Ego is the crazy Life-Coach Toni Erdmann, an imaginary Spinner with crooked teeth.
Winfrieds daughter (Sandra Hüller) is the through-and-through floor-standing and successful business consultant Ines. Her wardrobe consists mainly of suits from Pants. The last twelve months has spent in the tough Business woman in order to advise an Oil company in Bucharest at the time of its restructuring. After Ines’ short visit to the German homeland Winfried is convinced that his daughter is heartbroken, and decides spontaneously and completely in haste to visit in Romania – as his alter-Ego, Toni Erdmann.
Ostensibly, Winfried has only one goal: That his daughter Ines is finally a little looser. However, it quickly becomes clear: The father is in a deep life crisis. His follies are at the same time, a cry for help and an attempt to fight with the crowbar again, a place in the life of his daughter.
Simonischek is the sad Clown
Peter Simonischek shows as Winfried alias Toni his entire acting range. In Germany, mainly as a TV and theatre actor known Austrian plays the Erdmann-scenes with wonderfully exaggerated comic effect, to reveal in the next Moment, directly back to the deep sadness of his character with full force.
As the Inspiration for the character of Winfried Maren Ade, in Interviews, has referred to her own father, of her and to his fellow man constantly plays pranks. Simonischek, it is possible to bring the perfect Balance between compassion and foreign shame for his character and to show that behind the Clown, a sad and angry man.
Sandra Hüller (left) and Director Maren Ade in Cannes
Whitney-Houston-Karaoke is soul-Striptease
Sandra Hüller as the daughter of Ines is Simonischek absolutely equal. Since their outstanding performance in Hans-Christian Schmid’s Film “Requiem” (2006) – Hüller, an epileptic, needs an exorcism endure played – it is considered as a most talented and fearless Actresses in Germany.
However, even the gruesome exorcism scenes could hardly be a greater challenge for Hüller as the key scene in “Toni Erdmann”. In your Ines sings at a Karaoke number of Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” three minutes, literally, the soul from the body: lie down Relentlessly and without regard to a sense of shame an emotional Striptease, the roaring, funny and moving at the same time.
“Toni Erdmann” is a Film that takes the time for his characters. Two hours of the movie until Ade is in the third to the brilliant Finale anzusetzt, in which almost every scene is a comedic hit. In passing, Ade still easily the sexism of our today’s work world. In one scene, a business partner Ines forces formally to go out with his wife – which he obviously holds for one of his status symbols – shopping. In a different Ines agrees to a humiliating Sex game with her colleagues, and lovers, Tim. These scenes, Ines seem more human, and behind your facade of hard Business practices and reputable pants look suits.
The Reputation Of Hollywood?
A Triumph is to have succeeded Maren Ade with “Toni Erdmann” right now, although she has not won in Cannes the Golden palm. In view of the exuberant enthusiasm on the Côte d’azur, Hollywood is not likely to be far. It would be a little surprising, if Ade hadn’t been getting offers for a Remake of L. A.. However, while the story of a father and daughter is universal, Ade anchored to your movie, but in a typical German sense of the world, in the people up at the same time and yet relentlessly can be open. “Toni Erdman” is the best German Film of recent years – and the funniest Comedy since a long time, whether from Germany or not.