TONI ERDMANN

Toni Erdmann

Germany 2016

Director Marin Ade

It is rare for me to see an Oscar-nominated foreign film BEFORE the Awards are given out, but I had the pleasure of watching the German entry "Toni Erdmann" with my brother at the legendary Film Forum in Greenwich Village last week. I cannot think of a better venue or companion to see this extremely odd but never dull "German comedy" -- if you thought that was an oxymoron, this film proves that it is not!

To be honest, it is a 'squirmy comedy' (to quote A.O. Scott, New York Times) that leaves you sad and reflective.  But hey, I didn't go into this expecting an Adam Sandler-Will Ferrell vehicle  (those movies leave me sad, too ... for the state of comedy in America!)

"Toni Erdmann" has a pace and mood that belies the comedy label: it is as much about changing family dynamics, workplace gender prejudices and the down side of globalization as it is about making an audience  laugh.  In fact, I found myself laughing at certain episodes only hours after seeing the movie (at the time I was too much in shock to laugh). This movie will stay with you.

Father Winfried and his grown daughter Ines lead very different lives, but are cut from the same cloth. [Toni Erdmann, by the way, is the fictional guise Winfried dons to insinuate himself in the professional and personal life of his daughter, who is a consultant for a German conglomerate working in Romania.]  Her interactions with co-workers provides a biting satire of the minefield of office politics a professional woman has to navigate even today. But it is the unconventional father-daughter relationship that dominates the film, and is exquisitely rendered by the two leads: their love-hate, push-pull stubbornness towards each other convinces you they are indeed related. They keep upping the ante on each other, and you never know how each will react. That leaves the audience off balance throughout.

Both lead actors are brilliant, but Sandra Huller as Ines delivers as fearless a performance as you will see this year. Her sly, deadpan comic timing is impeccable. Plus, you will never hear a more emotional performance of a Whitney Houston song in any movie EVER! (including and especially "The Bodyguard"!!)

I recommend this movie to adventurous filmgoers only.