Review of Toto the Hero (1991) by Doctor S — 26 Apr 2011

I could try to tell you about this slice of wholly original Belgian cinema, but that would still sell it short. If there ever was a story about a man's bitter resentment, this is it, as Thomas is convinced he was switched at birth with another family and bears that grudge until his final days. Experiencing that man's life though, which on paper looks like a long row to hoe, proceeds in completely unexpected ways. There is no timeline - we jump from his old age to his youth to his adult years with dizzying frequency, and yet Jaco Van Dormael manages to give enough cues that we can stay on the same page. This is a filmmaker who asks that his audience pay attention, so turn off those cell phones! Integrated into the main stories are a collection of fantasies as well, and not always easy to tell which is which. The title Toto The Hero refers to Thomas' alter ego as a spy determined to save his father and makes several appearances. While the entire cast performs beautifully, special mention goes out to the two main child actors as young Thomas and young Alice his sister (or adopted sister, depending which story you believe.) How the Europeans can consistently harvest such young natural actors is impressive, while the best that American casting agents can usually find is another Jake Lloyd.

For influences I thought of Sunset Boulevard for opening with a narrated death scene and especially Vertigo for a mysterious obsession Thomas has with a woman that he thought was dead. As for followers, I have to believe Jean-Pierre Jeunet is an ardent fan (the lightbulb-popping ploy instantly reminded me of the same trick in Amelie). A whimsical, serious, thoughtful, surprising, and engaging piece of work, I can honestly say I have not seen anything quite like Toto Le Hero.