Toto the Hero (1991)

Born amidst the chaos of a hospital fire, Thomas Van Hasebroeck and Alfred, his neighboring newborn, begin a life intertwined by fate and suspicion. As an eight-year-old, Thomas nurses the conviction that he was switched with Alfred at birth, a twist of destiny that stripped him of the privileged life he believes he was meant to lead. The affluent existence that Alfred enjoys fuels Thomas's resentment, fostering a belief that his own misfortunes should have rightfully been Alfred's. Love further entangles their lives as Thomas harbors a deep affection for Alfred's sister, Alice. Her mysterious disappearance, however, marks a turning point, transforming the young dreamer into an adult surveyor. His path crosses with a woman named Evelyne, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Alice. The cruel irony? Evelyne is Alfred's wife. Fast forward six decades, a reflective Thomas, now a senior citizen, ponders over the life he's led. Was it all a waste, he wonders, contemplating the dreams of his childhood that remain unfulfilled. Consumed by a lifetime of envy and bitterness towards Alfred, the man he perceives as his life's thief, he concocts a plan of revenge. The narrative of 'Toto the Hero' explores this intricate web of imagined destinies and unrequited love, following Thomas's quest to reclaim what he believes was unjustly taken - his own life. As the curtains close, viewers are left to unravel the threads of Thomas's reality and the illusions he's woven over the years.

Toto the Hero is a comedy movie featuring Peter Böhlke and directed by Jaco Van Dormael.

Toto the Hero is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.