Boasting a captivating lead performance by the remarkable Sandra Hüller, this 2016 audience favourite marks the third film from German writer/director Maren Ade. Offering a distinctive portrayal of a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship, it seamlessly blends screwball humour with sublime moments, showcasing a breathless style of filmmaking that captivates even the most cynical viewers.
The plot revolves around divorced, middle-aged music teacher Winfried, who seeks to reconnect with his corporate daughter Ines through a series of eccentric practical jokes. Adopting the persona of "Toni Erdmann," inspired by Maren Ade's admiration for Andy Kaufman's alter ego, Winfried transforms into a self-styled "consultant and coach," complete with a fright wig and fake teeth.
What follows is a delightful blend of cringe comedy and German cinematic brilliance that defies easy categorisation. As father-daughter tensions escalate to absurd levels, it culminates in a brilliantly executed emotional catharsis that left Cannes critics ecstatic, earning the film the festival's prestigious FIPRESCI Prize.
WINNER – FIPRESCI PRIZE, Cannes Film Festival 2016
NOMINEE – Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 2017
NOMINEE – Best Motion Picture: Foreign Language, Golden Globes 2017
"Playful and profound by turns, it spins a complex and multi-layered story."
- The Independent
Tuesday 7th May
Add to Calendar
162 min
M
Sandra Hüller, Michael Wittenborn, Trystan Pütter, Thomas Loibl
Maren Ade
Film Festival
German, English with English subtitles
Palace Balwyn Cinema, Palace James Street, Palace Barracks, Palace Norton St, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Pentridge Cinema, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Electric, Palace Byron Bay, Astor Theatre, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Central Sydney, Palace Moore Park, Kino Cinema, Palace Raine Square