“Toni Erdmann” has racked up more honors. The offbeat German comedy received five awards from the International Cinephile Society yesterday, February 19.
Written and directed by Maren Ade, “Toni Erdmann” follows Winifried (Peter Simonichek) and Ines (Sandra Hüller), a father and daughter whose personalities are radically different from one another. Ines is an overworked, polished management consultant who is deeply invested in other people’s opinions of her. Her meticulously managed life is turned upside down when Winifried, an oddball music teacher, shows up from out of town for an unexpected visit.
ScreenDaily reports that the film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor for Simonischek, and Best Foreign Film from the International Cinephile Society, which is composed of around 100 journalists, film scholars, and industry professionals.
“Toni Erdmann” made its world premiere at Cannes in 2016. Considered a favorite by many at the fest, the film didn’t end up snagging any awards. It did, however, win the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Grand Prix for best film of the year, an honor Ade accepted at the San Sebastian Film Festival’s opening night gala ceremony.
The critical darling has since been nominated for and received many awards. The film swept the the main categories of the 2016 European Film Awards, taking home Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and acting honors for Huller and Simonischek. Ade, who has spoken in support of quota systems for women directors, is the first woman to win Best Film at the awards in their entire 29 years. “Toni Erdmann” came in at number one on Sight & Sound’s prestigious annual critics’ poll. The UK Magazine asked 163 critics and curators to name their five best films of the year, and Ade’s third feature came out victorious and made history: This year’s list marks the first time that a woman-directed film has taken the top spot.
Ade told Women and Hollywood that she was drawn to the story because she wanted to “tell something about family — about the assigned roles everybody plays in families, and about the wish to break out of that and to start from zero.”
“Toni Erdmann” is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Oscars. The ceremony will take place February 26.
