The Total Family

An eccentric, talky satire of aristocratic delusion that feels theatrical and dense, rewarding patience with absurd genealogical games and literary in-jokes.

Directed by

Ernst Schmidt Jr.

Starring

Armin Akermann, John D. Weiler, Franz West

Overview

Baron Childerich III of Bartenbruch considers himself to be a descendant of the Merovingian dynasty and he has drawn up a chart of marriages and adoptions which show that he is his own father, grandfather, father-in-law, and son-in-law. He aims at achieving the "total family" based on one man. He persuades his french relative, Pippin, to help him. But the latter lets him down and breaks up the family... Among those who belong to the (surrounding) world of the Baron are Dr. Döblinger, a writer, who has formed a band of muggers and Professor Horn, a psychiatrist, who quiets his patients by leading them on nose rings and beating them up... Family satire with numerous personal and literary allusions based on the novel of the Austrian writer, Heimito von Doderer.

How it feels

Measured and demanding.

About

Family, identity, madness, power

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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