One of the biggest hits at the Cannes Film Festival this year has just found U.S. distribution and seems on its way to becoming a serious contender for the Palme d’Or.
Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” had been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. In their official synopsis, SPC describes the story as following “practical joker Winfried (Peter Simonischek) [who] disguises himself as flashy ‘Toni Erdmann’ to get busy Ines’ (Sandra Hüller) attention and change her corporate lifestyle. The father-daughter challenge reaches absurd proportions until Ines begins to see that her eccentric father deserves a place in her life.”
“Sony Pictures Classics’ list of films and directors is so impressive,”
said director Ade. “It’s a great honor that ‘Toni Erdmann’ is the newest addition to their slate, and I am looking forward to this experience.”
“One of the freshest films in years; profound, funny, powerful. ‘Toni Erdmann’ establishes director Maren Ade as a force to be reckoned with, one of the world’s truly great directors,” added Sony Pictures Classics.
“Toni Erdmann” has been earning such rave reviews that it’s being called one of the strongest contenders for the Palme d’Or. Should it win Cannes’ highest honor, it would be the first time that a female director won the prestigious award solo. Jane Campion won the title in 1993 for her film “The Piano,” but shared it with Chen Kaige’s “Fairwell My Concubine.”
No word yet on when Sony Pictures Classics will release the film, but you can check out the trailer below.
