Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

TONI ERDMANN (Germany 2016) ***1/2
Directed by Maren Ade

Stars: Peter Simonischek, Sandra Hüller, Michael Wittenborn

Review by Gilbert Seah

German director Maren Ade’s third movie that was the toast of Cannes is that rare German comedy that has much to enjoy. Germans are more known for their rigidity than for their sense of humour, so TONI ERDMANN the film makes a welcome departure from there Germans we know.

The name in the title belongs to the father, a practical joker who means well. But no one really likes a practical joker least of all the one that the joke is on. That one happens to be his daughter, an important oil consultant in the international business world. So, her patience is tested up to the cry last reel. The humour in the film is sly and sometimes laugh out loud funny, many of them being the practical jokes that Toni puts on her daughter.

Despite the rather predictable ending, TONI ERDMANN ends up a charming film about a father and daughter relationship. Based on the director’s real practical joker father who also wore fake teeth, the ones she gave to him to play practical jokes with.

Trailer: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=tHiBr8OrpKI