Sabine Hiebler and Gerhard Ertl's Austrian-German road movie Toni und Helene combines serious questions with humor and lightness. At its center is an unusual friendship between two older women travelling together to Switzerland.
After receiving an incurable diagnosis, Helene, played by Christine Ostermayer, decides to end her life on her own terms at a Swiss assisted-dying clinic. Her nephew Josef refuses to accompany her. She then meets Toni, played by Margarethe Tiesel, a lively woman who eventually offers to drive her. Their relationship becomes the heart of the film.
Ostermayer and Tiesel give authentic, emotionally involving performances. Both bring depth to their characters, making the story touching without losing its humor. The developing friendship is especially convincing: their differences remain visible, but the closeness between them feels earned.
The camera captures the landscapes of their journey while also reflecting its emotional movement. Comic and reflective moments connect smoothly, giving the direction a notably balanced quality. The film can acknowledge the seriousness of its destination without making every stop along the way solemn.
There are weaknesses. Some turns are predictable, and the comedy occasionally feels imposed on the material. Those moments do not outweigh the performances or the emotional depth.
Toni und Helene approaches age, illness and assisted dying with sensitivity. Its mixture of tragedy and comedy gives it a distinctive warmth. For viewers who want a thoughtful film with room to breathe and laugh, this is a clear recommendation.