If You Loved Sandra Hüller in 'Project Hail Mary', Watch This 93%-Rated German Drama

Sandra Hüller is an actress who has gained international fame in recent years. Her roles in the critically acclaimed Anatomy of a Fall and the recent sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary have made her a household name.

But long before she conquered Hollywood, Hüller starred in a film that critics hailed as one of the best European movies of the decade – Toni Erdmann, a poignant, funny, and incredibly touching drama about the relationship between a father and daughter.

What Is 'Toni Erdmann' About?

Winfried Conradi, a 65-year-old music teacher, lives out his days in complete solitude. His daughter, Ines, is a successful business consultant who travels the world optimizing companies.

She neither has the time nor the desire to communicate with her eccentric father. They inhabit different worlds: he is a warmhearted romantic with a quirky sense of humor, she is a rational manager whose primary concern is results.

Realizing that he is losing his only close person, Winfried creates an alter ego – the eccentric business consultant Toni Erdmann – and infiltrates his daughter's social circle.

'Toni Erdmann' Is a Graceful Balancing Act of Clumsiness

It's difficult to categorize Toni Erdmann within any single genre. While the movie contains some hilarious scenes, it's too tragic to be considered a pure comedy. Winfried experiences profound despair, and Ines experiences an existential void that she tries to fill with work.

The father's antics are sometimes uncomfortable for both the characters and the viewers, but the lighthearted narrative prevents the movie from being labeled a depressing black comedy.

Winfred is based on director Maren Ade's own father, who wore false teeth to amuse others.

It Was in 'Toni Erdmann' That Sandra Hüller Proved That She Is a Profound Dramatic Actress

Sandra Hüller plays a confident, collected scientist in Project Hail Mary. In Toni Erdmann, however, her character is an emotional volcano hidden beneath the veneer of a flawless corporate professional.

Ines oscillates between irritation, awkwardness, shame, and sudden bursts of filial love. Hüller plays this transformation subtly, making her character simultaneously repulsive and sympathetic.

At the movie's conclusion, the creators allow viewers to shed tears, but they don't force any moralizing conclusions on us.

Toni Erdmann tells the story of how people, despite their differences, are connected to each other by invisible threads and are capable of breaking free from their own worlds and entering the lives of others.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Toni Erdmann'?

• Toni Erdmann has 93% from critics and 73% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, Toni Erdmann scored 4.0/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Toni Erdmann'?

Toni Erdmann is available to stream on Hulu.