Only Human

Seres Queridos

Dir: Teresa De Pelegri & Dominic Harari Spain / UK / Argentina / Portugal 2004 98 minutes 15A

Cast: Norma Aleandro, Guillermo Toledo, Maria Botto, Marian Aguilera, Fernando Ramallo, Alba Molinero, Max Berliner, Mario Martin

Tuesday 7th February

A sprightly family comedy about a disastrous evening when a Jewish girl brings her Palestinian boyfriend home for the first time, Only Human combines a deftly-turned script, fine perts and a feel-good message to mostly delightful effect. TV presenter Leni (Marian Aguilera) turns up unexpectedly at her family home with university lecturer Rafi (Guillermo Toledo). They are greeted by her caring but neurotic mother Gloria (Norma Aleandro), belly dancer sister Tania (Maria Botto) and her daughter Paula (Alba Molinero), ultra-religious younger brother David (Fernando Ramallo), and rifle-wielding senile grandfather, old soldier Dudu (Max Berliner).Rafi is trying to amuse Paula with a container of frozen soup when it falls out of the window and apparently kills a passer-by who, Rafi learns to his horror, may be Leni's father on his way back from work. His anxiety about this, and the nicely-worked comedy of embarrassment it generates occupy the central reels.The ghost of Billy Wilder clearly hovers behind an agile, rapidly-paced script that is thick with farcical situations which, despite being somewhat deja vu, are dextrously helmed and played. Perfs are vibrant, especially from Argentine vet Aleandro, who's always dependable; Toledo, who solidifies his rep as one of Spanish cinema's finest young comedy thesps; and energetic Botto, who adds to the general effect of a well-oiled ensemble.The dark political background rarely intrudes on the general lightness, and the message -- that political differences should not be allowed to stand in the way of love -- may be facile, but is always worth restating.

- Variety“shades of early Almodovar.” - Empire“As amusing as Meet the Fockers...it would be a mistake to miss.” - Total Film “Engaging...raucous...really entertaining...comic and true.” - Sight and Sound