My Brother Is An Only Child (2006)
86 %
Reviews Counted: 56 Fresh: 48 Rotten:8 Average Rating: 7/10
Consensus:
Luchetti takes advantage of the storyline's historical context without sacrificing his cast's fine performances or the script's light wit.
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Theatrical Release: Mar 28, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: Already a smash in its native Italy, MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD, which was presented at this year’s Cannes and Toronto film festivals, reunites director Luchetti with longtime collaborators Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rulli, best known as screenwriters of the highly acclaimed “The Best... [More]
Genre: Foreign Films
Starring: Angela Finocchiaro, Luca Zingaretti, Elio Germano, Riccardo Scamarcio, Diane Fleri
Director: Daniele Luchetti
Producer: Riccardo Tozzi, Giovanni Stabilini, Marco Chimenz
Screenwriter: Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, Daniele Luchetti
Composer: Franco Piersanti
Producer: Riccardo Tozzi, Giovanni Stabilini, Marco Chimenz
Screenwriter: Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, Daniele Luchetti
Composer: Franco Piersanti
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Reviews
Comment
It's an engrossing political love story, with a strong sense of the shadings within the daily lives of these characters.
06/20/08
Fast-paced, well-acted and acute about sibling rivalry, the film nonetheless fails to leave a strong impression.
06/20/08
This is such a lovely film from writer/director Daniele Luchetti, nostalgic perhaps, but with that indefinable Italian whimsy that takes serious political themes and undermines them beautifully.
06/13/08
The performances are astonishing, perhaps enabled by the flawless script.
06/12/08
Despite the awards pedigree, the drama is a bit of a slog at times, with Accio taking seemingly ages to come of age, but nobody said growing up was easy.
06/12/08
"Only Child" is both funny and heartbreaking, and incredibly adept at shifting between lighter and darker tones.
06/11/08
Although familiarity with Italian politics helps in appreciating this film, anyone can enjoy this energetic tale of a house divided.
06/08/08
Although familiarity with Italian politics helps in appreciating this film, anyone can enjoy this energetic tale of a house divided.
06/08/08
The linkage in this movie between politics and family dynamics is a point well taken, but the movie -- whose sense of frenetic activity going nowhere is captured by Luchetti's buoyant camera -- does go on and on before anyone learns anything.
06/06/08
Top Critic
The best thing about the movie are the performances, all of which are outstanding; in particular, Angela Finocchiaro, who plays the long-suffering mother, is superb.
06/06/08
Sometimes, under a torrent of social pressures, water runs faster, if not thicker, than blood, and even the strongest bonds drown in the flood.
06/06/08
Top Critic
The film's early affability eventually wears out, and a sharp turn into deadly seriousness feels out of place.
05/22/08
A coming-of-age story about a young man who – like the era he was born into – has no idea how to come of age, except by violent fits and starts, in all directions, to varying ends, and ready to change course whenever the mood strikes.
05/16/08
You don't need a degree in political science to love this film...The film entertainingly demonstrates that the bonds of blood are stronger than those of ideology.
05/15/08
Top Critic
That it clicks is largely due to the daredevil chemistry of the actors playing the brothers, who can be a handful whenever they're together.
05/09/08
In this lively drama of rebellion and revolution, emotion is even more inflammatory than politics.
05/08/08
Though it's well-cast and convincingly captures the look and feel of its era, the film loses steam as Accio's story meanders to a predictable conclusion.
05/02/08
Director Daniele Luchetti's strategy is to personify the long-standing divisions of his homeland in a pair of siblings, but make the characters so vital that we don't feel we're being browbeaten with political allegory.
04/25/08
Top Critic
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