The phrase “German comedy” is usually taken as an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp” or “functional democracy.” After all, the land of Beethoven, Goethe, and Fassbinder doesn’t exactly have a rich tradition of joviality. Unless you count all those Downfall memes, and even they wear thin after a while.
So when you hear that Toni Erdmann is an acclaimed, prize-winning German comedy, and that it’s nearly three hours long, you may be skeptical. But when I tell you that most of the movie is actually set in Bucharest, Romania, you just might change your tune. Or maybe not.
Hmm, this isn’t going how I’d planned. Because Toni Erdmann is a movie you should see. It’s funny, heartwarming, and wise, except for when it’s being dark and existential. It features a pair of rich, subtle performances, and it marks the emergence, with her third feature, of director Maren Ade as an important international filmmaker. Also, there’s a scene where a guy ejaculates onto a petit four. So, pretty much something for everyone.