Only Human Movie Review:


Using the structure of a freewheeling Spanish farce, filmmakers DePelegri and Harari confront one of the world's most impossible conflicts head on. Well, from the side, maybe. It's an astonishing feat that they're able to actually examine the issue with honesty and depth, all while telling a hilarious cross-cultural love story.

Leni (Aguilera) is understandably terrified about taking her Palestinian boyfriend Rafi (Toledo) home to Madrid to meet her Jewish family, even though they're agnostic liberals. As dinner approaches, she gets the nerve to talk to her domineering mother (Aleandro); meanwhile in the kitchen Rafi inadvertently causes an accident that might have killed someone passing on the street below. And the victim might be Leni's father (Martin). Fortunately everyone is too self-absorbed to notice.

In addition to the naturalistic acting style, the dialog has such an organic feel to it that we can tell English-Spanish husband-wife team Harari and DePelegri are writing from experience. Everything is so character-based that each interaction comes to life with real comedic force. The script is a non-stop barrage of hilarious jokes and asides, tiny details that capture the inner workings of this group of completely different people. Unlike broader ethnic family comedies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, these gags have authenticity--from the big laughs to subtle jabs to close-to-the-bone cultural humour. Everyone makes it part of their business to interfere in everyone else's life and relationships, simply because they're related, so they have the right.

As a result, the serious issue underpinning the film is allowed to gurgle meaningfully beneath the surface. Some of the observations are perhaps a little forced (such as Berliner's deaf grandfather, who boasts about shooting Arabs during the war). But they sure hit a nerve. While other things (such as Ramallo's suddenly zealous young brother or Botto's trampy single-mum sister) are much more accurate than we care to admit. There are moments that are thoroughly silly and perhaps a little too farcical. But in the end this engaging film wins us over with its sharp humour and surprising warmth. And its brave timeliness.



Rich Cline

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