Toto the Hero (1991)

Thomas and Alfred were born around the same time; a fire in the nursery had nurses scrambling to save the newborns. Because he felt that he deserved Alfred's good fortune at being born into... See full summary »

Director:

Jaco Van Dormael

Writers:

Didier De Neck (collaborator), Pascal Lonhay (collaborator)

Stars:

Michel Bouquet, Mireille Perrier, Jo De Backer

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 16 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Bouquet	...	Old Thomas / Voice of Adult Thomas
Jo De Backer	...	Adult Thomas
Thomas Godet	...	Child Thomas
Gisela Uhlen	...	Old Evelyne
Mireille Perrier	...	Voice of old Evelyne / Adult Evelyne
Sandrine Blancke	...	Alice
Peter Böhlke	...	Old Alfred
Michel Robin	...	Old Alfred (voice)
Didier Ferney	...	Adult Alfred
Hugo Harold-Harrison	...	Child Alfred
Fabienne Loriaux	...	Thomas' Mother
Klaus Schindler	...	Thomas' Father
Patrick Waleffe	...	Voice of Thomas' Father / Official
Pascal Duquenne	...	Adult Cèlestin
François Toumarkine	...	Adult Cèlestin (voice)

Storyline

Thomas and Alfred were born around the same time; a fire in the nursery had nurses scrambling to save the newborns. Because he felt that he deserved Alfred's good fortune at being born into a wealthy family, Thomas conceives the idea that he and Alfred were switched at birth, and he can't help seeing that his unhappiness should be Alfred's, from the loss of his sister to his inability to have a relationship with the woman Evelyne. So, as his life is ending, he formulates a plan of revenge against his bitter enemy, his lifetime adversary, the man who stole his existence.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor neighbor relationship | swapping lives | death of sister | elderly man | elderly woman | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and sensuality (nudity)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lines after the fight on the train, "Out, out, brief candle! / Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player....", are from 'Macbeth' Act 5 Scene 5.

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Connections

References Vertigo (1958)

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Soundtracks

Boum
Music by Charles Trenet
Lyrics by Charles Trenet
Performed by Charles Trenet
Societe EMI France
(c) Edition Vianelly

User Reviews

Our Doppelgangers, Our Selves

A hearty recommendation for this film, which deftly kaleidoscopes time. Three actors portray one life at various age stages, through them we see the innocence of childhood and the guilt of autumn years are two sides of the same coign of vantage.

The creative imagination of the protagonist (and the director) are well framed...and it was reassuring that some of the magic that our hero, Thomas, felt as a child stays with him throughout his life, and this film.

Minor caveats for people who

1) dislike non-linear time in a film

2) voice-over narration

But the distinct actors/times make #1 no problem here, better yet the dissolves between them are often lyrical...and I think more accurate to how we remember our time in this world.

Reaffirmed my belief of the power in charged details (shoes in a closet, a pop tune, candy wrappers) and my faith in the beautiful complexity of a simple life.

Details

Country:

Belgium France Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

19 June 1991 (France)

Also Known As:

Totò the Hero

Filming Locations:

Baasrode, Dendermonde, Flanders, Belgium

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,228,153

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,228,153

Company Credits

Production Co:

Iblis Films, Metropolis Filmproduction, Philippe Dussart

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1