An ambitious and unforgiving business woman, Ines moves to Bucharest as a consultant for a large multinational. Totally in control of her life, she has a dim view of her father, a whimsical and unpredictable man who desperately tries to add some lightness to her existence. Told by Ines to go home, he decides instead to stay and take on the guise of strange Toni Erdmann, wearing a wig and dentures, interfering in her life in an attempt to give her what she lacks...

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Although the winners of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival are big names – Ken Loach, Xavier Dolan, Olivier Assayas, Cristian Munglu, Andrea Arnold and Asghar Farhadi – the name of the real winner is Maren Ade. Her third film, Toni Erdmann, in the official competition at Cannes, was a big hit there. Just like the character of the eccentric father, the film offers a breath of fresh air and an unexpected energy; it is extremely funny and irresistibly tender. Although it is rhythmically uneven and its 2:42 length eventually damages the story and its characters, the first hour is terrific, inventive and on-target – especially thanks to great performances by Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek.