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Poster for Only Human

Only Human

2004 · 1h 33m · R Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by Teresa De Pelegrí , Dominic Harari

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Overview

Leni takes Rafi to meet her family in Madrid. Leni's family is Jewish - mother, father, older sister and daughter, brother, and grandfather. Rafi is Palestinian, in Spain since age 12. Before her father returns from work, Leni reveals Rafi's origins. He accidentally drops a block of frozen soup out the flat window, probably killing a passerby. Leni initiates a cover-up and Rafi figures out the body is probably Leni's father. The body disappears and without telling the rest of the family what they know, Leni and Rafi organize a search for dad. Mom is sure he's having an affair. Leni's belly-dancing sister kisses Rafi. Her brother grabs a rifle to shoot the Arab. Can anything be put right?

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
72%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Writer-directors Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri have penned an amusing script and, as directors, inject a delicate human texture into the story's intermixing of capricious zaniness, frank sensuality and Mideast politics.

Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Fresh

A smart and dark comedy from Spain, Only Human manages to say cogent things about the nature of intolerance and love while being fitfully hilarious.

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Fresh

There's a political and social clash at its core, but the laughter comes from a deeper, human place (see title).

Ted Fry, Seattle Times
Fresh

A familiar situation of a beloved daughter bringing her intended home to meet the folks is pushed to sublimely silly extremes.

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Rotten

A Spanish comedy that isn't quite as frenzied or farcical as its husband-and-wife writer-director team clearly intended it to be.

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

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