“TONI ERDMANN”
Germany; Directed by Maren Ade
Directed by: Maren Ade
Screenplay by: Maren Ade
Cinematography by: Patrick Orth
Music by: Patrick Veigel
Distributed by: NFP Marketing & Distribution
Release Date: December 25, 2016
Budget: $3.2 million
Country: Germany / Austria
FILM SYNOPSIS: Retired piano teacher Winfried Conradi attempts to reconnect with his estranged adult daughter Ines, a driven businesswoman currently based in Romania. Ines, herself grappling with weighty emotional issues, is not pleased with her prankster father’s overtures and engages in a battle of wits with him.
What’s its competition? Currently, “Toni Erdmann” is the odds-on favorite to win the Academy Award. With “Elle” not in the picture, which was originally deemed its competition, the race seems wide open now. Personally, I’ve found some of the other Foreign Language nominees slightly more interesting, like “Land Of Mine” and “Tanna,” but if the Academy is going to steer towards sentiment and dark humor, it likely wouldn’t be the first time. “Erdmann” follows a father who interjects himself into his busy daughters life unannounced. Her father is a practical joker and he takes on the persona of Toni Erdmann and becomes a life coach to the CEO of his daughter’s company. There seems to be something weirder and weirder around every corner. Seeing as Paramount has around signed Jack Nicholson and Kristen Wiig to star in the American remake, that’s a good indicator that it will win here.
Previous nominations? This is the tenth Academy Award nomination for Germany. Previous nominations were:
- THE WHITE RIBBON (2009)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (2008)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006)
Winner, Foreign Language Film - SOPHIE SCHOLL – THE FINAL DAYS (2005)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - DOWNFALL (2004)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - NOWHERE IN AFRICA (2002)
Winner, Foreign Language Film - BEYOND SILENCE (1997)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - SCHTONK! (1992)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE NASTY GIRL (1990)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film
Prior to reunification in 1990, the Federal Republic of Germany received a total of eight Academy Award nominations, including one win:
- ANGRY HARVEST (1985)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE TIN DRUM (1979)
Winner, Foreign Language Film - THE GLASS CELL (1978)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE PEDESTRIAN (1973)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE BRIDGE (1959)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - ARMS AND THE MAN (1958)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE DEVIL CAME AT NIGHT (1957)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film - THE CAPTAIN OF KOPENICK (1956)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film
Prior to reunification in 1990, the German Democratic Republic received one Academy Award nomination:
- JACOB, THE LIAR (1976)
Nominee, Foreign Language Film
// Produced by Maren Ade, Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski, and Michael Merkt //
// Directed by Maren Ade //
// Dated Viewed: Monday, February 6th, 2017 // STREAMING // 35 films – 21 days //
