Only Human (2004 film)

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Only Human (Seres queridos) is a 2004 Spanish-Argentine film directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa De Pelegrí. The drama/comedy stars Marian Aguilera as Leni, Guillermo Toledo as Rafi, and Norma Aleandro as Gloria. The movie runs 93 minutes and features dialogue in multiple languages, including Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, and English. It premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2004.

Plot
Leni, a Jewish TV reporter from Spain, visits her family with her new boyfriend, Rafi, a Palestinian college professor. Her family — from anxious mother Gloria to the rest of the lively clan — is tense about the couple’s relationship. When Leni reveals Rafi’s background, emotions run high and small misunderstandings quickly escalate. A frightening incident involving a block of frozen soup leads everyone to fear for Ernesto, Leni’s father, and the family’s unity is tested as secrets and suspicions surface. As the weekend unfolds, tensions mix with humor, flirtation, and worries about reputation and loyalty. The drama builds toward a confrontation and eventual reconciliation, with Ernesto turning up alive and the family slowly finding its way back to harmony.

Context
The film is notable for its focus on a Jewish woman’s relationship with a Palestinian man, exploring themes of family, love, and cross-cultural tensions. It premiered in Locarno and is a collaborative production between Spain and Argentina (with portions also involving Portugal and the United Kingdom).