Toto the Hero

1991 1h 31m FR

👍

7.1

SOLID

🍅

85%

FRESH

⭐

7.4

IMDB

★7.1TMDB · 129🍅85%Rotten Tomatoes★7.4IMDB · 6,428

DramaComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

80-year-old Thomas recounts his childhood and middle age through a series of flashbacks and dream sequences. Thomas believes he’s been taken away from a better life at birth; following a hospital fire, he vividly recalls being swapped with another new-born, and subsequently grows up in a poorer neighbouring household.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Michel Bouquet
Old Thomas
Thomas Godet
Child Thomas
Gisela Uhlen
Old Evelyne
Jo De Backer
Adult Thomas
Mireille Perrier
Adult Evelyne
Sandrine Blancke
Alice
Peter Böhlke
Old Alfred
Didier Ferney
Adult Alfred

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jaco Van Dormael
Writers: Didier De Neck, Pascal Lonhay, Jaco Van Dormael
Languages: French
Countries: Belgium, France, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, shot by Walther van den Ende. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Pierre van Dormael. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Susana Rossberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Michel Bouquet and Thomas Godet and Gisela Uhlen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0103105 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jaco Van Dormael directs. Walther van den Ende behind the camera. Pierre van Dormael scores. Susana Rossberg cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Belgium, France, Germany. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

135 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Germany.
3Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, shot by Walther van den Ende. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Pierre van Dormael. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Susana Rossberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Michel Bouquet and Thomas Godet and Gisela Uhlen carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0103105 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.