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Toto le Héros

Play trailer Poster for Toto le Héros PG-13 Released Mar 6, 1991 1h 34m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
From his bed in a retirement home, Thomas (Michel Bouquet) looks back with resentment on his life. He once dreamed of being a secret agent and instead became an unexceptional bureaucrat, but he clings to the idea that things might have been different but for one crucial event. Thomas believes he and another baby were switched at birth, thus granting his lifelong rival, Alfred (Peter Bohlke), an undeserved life of wealth and privilege. Still jealous, Thomas decides to finally settle the score.

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Neil Jillett The Age (Australia) It is hard to find any meaning, let alone entertainment, in this studiously confused film. Aug 16, 2021 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael makes his dazzlingly inventive debut with this intricately constructed tale of an old man. Feb 9, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This is an interesting film, but I would have liked it more, I think, if it had been more bitter and unforgiving; if someone like Bunuel had directed it. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Toto is an unreliable narrator and as he looks back through his life it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between fact, memory and reality. Aug 3, 2020 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant Van Dormael emerges as one of the most original and inventive of contemporary European filmmakers, a deadpan director-writer full of kicks and tricks. Apr 10, 2018 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Rated: 4.5/5 Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (78) audience reviews
isla s This is quite a delightful film about an elderly man recounting his childhood and all the issues he went through. The story is intriguing and the characters well portrayed. It's a touching, sad and quite engrossing film that I thought was well made and depicts childhood innocence well, so yes, I'd recommend it. Oh, I'll give one warning - this film does feature a certain French tune often and so you might find yourself with a bit of an earworm after watching this - count yourself warned! lol. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This magical film remains one of my favorites after multiple viewings. To describe the plot would do it little justice. Just see this gem if you can find it, Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Sempre carini i film di Van Dormael Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member great direction powerful and emotional visuals in no way compromised by its rating in any way shape or form Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Después de ver El Octavo día y Mr. Nobody, las dos películas, a pesar de ser dirigidas por la misma persona me parecían totalmente diferentes. Pero ahora lo entiendo todo, después de haber visto Toto le Héros. Jaco Van Dormael tomó varias ideas de su primer filme y las utilizó para sus películas posteriores que, sin embargo, siguen siendo distintas unas de otras. Y es que con sólo tres largometrajes, no es muy difícil repetirse. Desde ésta, su primera cinta, ya podemos ver el talento de Van Dormael para contar historias de una manera original e interesante. El relato transcurre alrededor de la vida de Thomas, desde sus primeros años, hasta sus últimos momentos. Durante su vida atraviesa por varias situaciones problemáticas, que se ven reflejadas durante toda la película. Todo ésto es presentado mientras disfrutamos de una poco sorprendente, pero agradable fotografía, una no tan variada pero emotiva banda sonora y varios momentos graciosos, con diálogos divertidos y bien pensados, además de varias secuencias acomodadas de manera no lineal. Thomas vive siempre atormentado y semi-deprimido por el recuerdo de su hermana, y la vida que, según él, intercambió con Alfred. Sin embargo, al final en los últimos instantes de su vida, se da cuenta de que Alfred siempre lo envidió y que su vida no había sido tan desastrosa después de todo. Thomas muere felizmente llevándose a la tumba todo aquello que le hizo falta durante su existencia. Toto le Héros nos permite darnos cuenta de que la vida de todo ser es imperfecta y que debemos valorar los buenos momentos. No vale la pena vivir lamentándose, si puedes estar alegre por otras razones. Una comedia-drama muy particular y cautivadora totalmente disfrutable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member It's an okay drama, unique story with non linear plot with flash-backs and forwards and heroic secret agent imaginations. This story is somewhat related to a later movie by Jaco Van Dormael, Le Huitième Jour (1996), which makes it more interesting, but of course we wouldn't know that in 1991. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Toto le Héros

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis From his bed in a retirement home, Thomas (Michel Bouquet) looks back with resentment on his life. He once dreamed of being a secret agent and instead became an unexceptional bureaucrat, but he clings to the idea that things might have been different but for one crucial event. Thomas believes he and another baby were switched at birth, thus granting his lifelong rival, Alfred (Peter Bohlke), an undeserved life of wealth and privilege. Still jealous, Thomas decides to finally settle the score.
Director
Jaco Van Dormael
Producer
Dany Gays, Luciano Gloor
Screenwriter
Jaco Van Dormael
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 1991, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.7K
Runtime
1h 34m