Toto the Hero

Elderly Thomas, known as Toto, lives in a retirement home and is convinced that he was swapped at birth with Alfred Kant, the son of a wealthy neighbouring family. In his mind, a fire at the hospital where he was born separated him from the comfortable life that should have been his, and he grew up in humbler circumstances instead. His resentment colours everything: he blames Alfred for the disappointments and losses he has suffered, including the death of his sister, and he imagines himself as a secret agent fighting the fate assigned to him. As an old man, he sets out to find Alfred and reclaim the existence he believes was taken from him, with results that do not unfold as he expects.

Toto the Hero is the feature debut of Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Pascal Lonhay and Didier De Neck. It comes first in his filmography, ahead of The Eighth Day, Mr. Nobody and The Brand New Testament. Michel Bouquet plays the aged Thomas, with Thomas Godet as the child, Jo De Backer as the adult, and Mireille Perrier, Gisela Uhlen and Sandrine Blancke in supporting roles.

Released in 1991, the Belgian, French and German co-production blends comedy, drama and fantasy across 91 minutes. It drew a worldwide box office of about 1 million dollars. On IMDb it holds 7.4 from roughly 6,700 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 7.1 from far fewer votes; a critics' rating of 8.5 from 13 reviews places it above those audience scores.