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User Reviews for: Toni Erdmann

Carolajn
CONTAINS SPOILERS7/10  7 years ago
I have kind of a problem with this film. Definitely it's good drama but honestly, I have no idea why many people perceive it as a comedy. Ok, some of the scenes are remotely funny but while I've heard opinions that people almost died with laughter watching this, for me it was a truly sad film and I read somewhere that the cast thought of it the same way. Don't get me wrong, I usually love such weird and original humour but this time the sadness and feeling of loneliness were overbearing.

And for sure it was good. The gradual storytelling, getting to know the characters, I won't complain about the screentime because it's worth it and I didn't feel like it was tedious or forced. But my problem is: I have a real, total antipathy against Toni/Winfried. I understand his will to connect with the daughter and show her "life" but the way he is trying to achieve that is so irritating and without respect towards his daughter's life.

The final scene also left me with mixed feelings about his behaviour throughout the film [spoiler] One second he tells Ines that life is all about cherishing moments, and then he leaves for A CAMERA? Really? It's like he left Ines AGAIN, all alone and waiting as, I've felt, it's been for a majority of her life. Maybe that's the whole point of his character? [/spoiler]

The film is really well directed and I recommend it to everyone, it's just a matter of perception of the main characters (really well acted, especially Huller was amazing) and their behaviour.
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Reply by Abstractals-deleted-1574644440
7 years ago
@carolajn Imma uplike your review for your honesty. <br /> <br /> I think the sadness and loneliness was definitely intentional, and I suspect that led to a lot of theatre audiences laughing more out of the emotional dissonance and discomfort than actual comedy. One subtle element that escaped me on my first watch, though, was [spoiler]how (male) Erdmann immediately seemed to lend (female) Ines credibility in the eyes of her potential business partners, despite the fact that he was obviously an uninformed, unkempt idiot.[/spoiler] There's a subtle feminist throughline here that European audiences might 'get' better than Western ones. <br /> <br /> As well, that moment where Ines is [spoiler]dealing with her naked assistant -- facing a young version of herself so eager to abandon her clothes, and her dignity, for the sake of "getting ahead" --[/spoiler] was both heartbreaking and hilarious. I don't think I laughed out loud at that, but I could imagine an audience doing so.<br /> <br /> Also, note that writer/director Maren Ade herself tried to undersell the comedy, by saying, "It's a movie about humor, but it's not very funny." <br /> <br /> As for the [spoiler]final going-to-get-a-camera gag[/spoiler]. I interpret it as a joke; a way for Winfried to winkingly show Ines that even his "live life fully" advice shouldn't itself become a hard and fast rule.
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Reply by benoliver999
7 years ago
@carolajn <br /> <br /> &gt; I have kind of a problem with this film. Definitely it's good drama but honestly, I have no idea why many people perceive it as a comedy. Ok, some of the scenes are remotely funny but while I've heard opinions that people almost died with laughter watching this, for me it was a truly sad film and I read somewhere that the cast thought of it the same way.<br /> <br /> Could not agree more. The gentle humour throughout was charming but people saying it's the funniest thing in years are kidding themselves. It's still a great film and deserves all the praise it's been getting, but I'd be surprised if most people go beyond a wry smile and occasional chuckle.
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