Toto le Héros

PG-13

Released Mar 6, 1991

1h 34m

Comedy

Drama

List

85%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

92%

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

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

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

Post a rating

Jaco Van Dormael

Director

Michel Bouquet

Thomas, as an old man

Mireille Perrier

Evelyne as young woman

Jo De Backer

Thomas, as an adult

Thomas Godet

Thomas, as a child

Gisela Uhlen

Evelyne as an old woman

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

29%

54%

Short Time

74%

71%

Impromptu

92%

91%

Crimes and Misdemeanors

67%

51%

Hero

44%

51%

She's Having a Baby

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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: Pierre Drouot
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