This came with high recommendations. “They” called it Lynchian. “They” called it one of the most influential French films of the early 90s. It won best cinematography at Cannes and it was directed by a real life (former) clown.

So why was it so dull? The core story of the after affects of trauma, and how it plays out in the lives of two characters, just failed to ignite. (Unlike the various houses that kept burning down or blowing up.)

We see life from a child’s eye view, middle life and then old age and death and many of the devices used lack wit and invention. I’d seen all these things before. If you compare Toto (you do call it Toto don’t you?) alongside the far superior Delicatessen which was a contemporary release, you realise how much more technically innovative and exciting Jeunet and Caro were, and how much more of a cinematic experience they offered.

Too whimsical to be disturbing, and too low budget to be Vertigo, Bladerunner or The Singing Detective, (all of which are heavily referenced), this film leaves you feeling that there’s nothing particularly wrong with it, but it’s so uninvolving that you just kind of consume it and then move on.

Lightweight.