Customer Reviews

Tatie Danielle [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This movie is a HOOT! A dark comedy in the tradition of "Baxter" (another great darker French one). Its about a mean-spirited old lady who goes out of her way to manipulate others and make their lives miserable, and this actress does a great job portraying someone who enjoys it! This woman is really hilarious acting very mean and taking much secret pleasure from it... She works her live-in servant to death - literally! - and then goes to live with relatives and wreak havok in their lives. She walks on flower beds! This was the most popular movie in France for some time.

This is not a movie for the underaged or those insensitive to subtleties. It is French cinema at its best, couldn't have been made here. We are so programmed to think of old people as being nice, it's so refreshing to see a mean old b-tch who hates and uses her family. However, what goes around, comes around, and she indeed has her eyes opened by a beautiful young caregiver. I've had 2 copies of this for many years; people either loved it (as do I) or hated it. It is a different type of humor than the simple-minded comedies to which we are accustomed in America, a more visual comedy. I just wish it would come out in DVD!

I found this movie to be hillarious and witty in a very dry and dark way. What a treat to see such humor! I highly recommend this to anyone who likes clever, twisted and humorous films.

I watched in shock and disgust at this old woman's cruel antics, yet could not contain my laughter. I was completely taken off guard by this film. Despite myself I began to care about this unhappy and angry old woman! The actors, especially the crafty old woman, were superb.

Fantastic approach of a certain third age spirit, just being capable but not willing to participate in others projects. The need of care, the need of attention, the need to believe she is still in control and can control others. Great Film! Fantastic actors.

This riotous tale would be even funnier if the "inheriting" relatives could not figure out to whom she actually belongs, in any case this "Auntie Dearest" [TSILLA CHELTON] has a strange connection to "Thelma & Louise" also released in 1991 - there's something about the ending ......

DUE to an unfortunate domestic accident [her equally ancient and eccentric servant expires oddly - looks fishy ...]and she is forced to relocate to a single room in the apartment of her somewhat affulent family. She does not want to fit in and makes that obvious, but she's tolerated to an extent. THEN, the by now exausted family, decide to go on vacation, without her. THE ABANDONMENT is probably the most memorable scene in the movie - tatie Danielle, coping "her" way in the silent apartment, but like the isolation of "Repulsion" [no relative], this one has a great twist to it - her "revenge" is spectacular.

Darkly funny to the point of severe belly laughs, this portrait of an old lady's last hurrah [ + then some] is a "must see". Then there's also the [mindful!] young caregiver towards the end of the movie who provides a solution that might lead to a sequel - a Gallic geriatric "Thelma & Louise".

Ruth Gordon's Mama in "Where's Poppa" is certainly an American relative, and a perfect companion.

This is one of the greatest foreign films around. It's a dark comedy with a typically French Flair. We first saw this film on the Sundance Channel and decided we had to own it. Finding a DVD of it in America is impossible so we purchased the used VHS version at Amazon and converted it to a DVD. If you can deal with subtitles.......you will love this film.

My brother and I watched this film in horror, about 20 years ago... With the impending thoughts that this is what our mother would turn into someday. Thankfully, 20 years later? We have things like oxycontin and xanix. Ever wonder why people become addicted to their prescription meds and die? It's because no one likes anyone who's mean. Really, it's better they have medication...

Tatie Danielle is manipulative, a trouble-maker. She feigns to be dependent in her illness, sneaking and lurking around behind the scenes every chance she gets. And she also gets a private charge out of hurting other people! (This is what people do when they don't like themselves.)

The theme of this movie is psychological, satirical observation. We get to witness Tatie, able to screw around, mess with people's heads, constantly hitting them under the belt and using her moods and financial leverage to control people's lives. And people kow-tow to her... Because she has a house, some money left from the death of her husband, and her pension. She gets away with a lot of bad behavior just because she can! Casually watching her own house-sitter fall to her death, you can't help but wonder - what had Tatie's marriage been like?! But that's just the beginning... Surrounded by a quirky cast of characters, this film is funny and unnerving; sure to remind you of someone you know!

This is one of my favorite movies ever. Every character is deliciously crafted which adds to such a great mix of enjoyable interactions and fun. Satire, warmth and folly are all blended nicely. Everyone in the film, Tatie, the nephew, the wife, the sister-in-law, the kids, the care-giver, beauty-salon co-worker and nursing home staff are all favorites. Quite a gem indeed. BRAVO!

We started watching this movie in my french class last year and we begged the teacher to let us watch it every day! I ended up buying it for my friend for her birthday and she loved it! The movie is hilarious to many people but it depends on personal prefernce.