German comedy tickles the critics

FIPRESCI prize for Toni Erdmann

by Richard Mowe

Daughter and father hi-jinks in Toni Erdmann with Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek
Daughter and father hi-jinks in Toni Erdmann with Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival
In what could be a precursor to tomorrow’s official Competition awards at the Cannes Film Festival, the International Federation of Film Critics awarded a prize to the German comedy Toni Erdmann.

The film was warmly received earlier in the week and so far has headed most of the critics’ grids in the trade journals such as Screen, Le Film Français and the Hollywood Reporter.

The third feature from Maren Ade has also received strong buzz for the performance of Sandra Hüller as a company executive dealing with her prankster father who comes to visit. Could she be in line for a best actress gong at tomorrow’s closing ceremony from George Miller’s official competition jury?

In Un Certain Regard, Fipresci jurors rewarded Dogs (Caini) a first feature from Romanian director Bogdan Miraca and dealing with a son who finds out his late grandfather was a crime baron.

The top title in the Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week selections (and restricted to first films) was deemed to be Raw (Grave) by French director Julia Ducournau, a thriller definitely not for the squeamish, involving cannabilism.

The jury members included: president Alin Tasciyan (Turkey), Pamela Biénzobas (Chile), Tereza Brdeckova (Czech Republic), Michael Kienzl (Germany), Noémie Luciani (France), Bujor Ion Ripeanu (Rumania), Rita Di Santo (UK), Vecdi Sayar (Turkey) and Léo Soesanto (France).

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