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My Brother Is an Only Child

Play trailer Poster for My Brother Is an Only Child R 2008 1h 39m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Two brothers living in Latina, Italy, grow up against the backdrop of the tumultuous Years of Lead. Manrico Benassi (Riccardo Scamarcio) joins the Communist party, while his impressionable younger brother, Accio (Elio Germano), returns from seminary school a full-blooded Fascist. As the years wear on, Accio and Manrico's family loyalty is tested by their political differences and their dueling loves for Francesca (Diane Fleri), a compassionate and intelligent activist.
My Brother Is an Only Child

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Critics Consensus

Luchetti takes advantage of the storyline's historical context without sacrificing his cast's fine performances or the script's light wit.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian 10/18/2008
3/5
Daniele Luchetti's fluent, heartfelt Italian picture is the story of two brothers born after the war, who come of age in the 1960s and drift apart in the paranoid, violent, sour political atmosphere of Italy in the 70s. Go to Full Review Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer 10/18/2008
3.5/4
The film, which argues that blood brotherhood is stronger than political brotherhoods, vibrates with their youthful energy and ardor. Go to Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald 06/20/2008
It's an engrossing political love story, with a strong sense of the shadings within the daily lives of these characters. Go to Full Review Sarah Manvel Cinemattraction 02/10/2019
What could have been a complex examination of Italy's political divisions in the 1960s and '70s is reduced to two brothers' ceaseless one-upmanship. Go to Full Review Laura Hiros Rincón de cine 03/23/2018
4/5
A film as incisive as it is delectable about the dreams and disappointments of adolescence, the passion of youth and the surprise of unexpected love. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express 04/28/2011
Actors Germano and Scamarcio turn in magnificent, multilayered acting jobs. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dave S 10/20/2023 It's not that My Brother is an Only Child is a bad movie – it's not. If there's a problem it would seem to be the fact that it never really establishes its identity. A drama? Probably. A comedy? There are some humorous elements. A romance? There's some of that. A film about family dynamics? Check. Political commentary? Definitely. Set in 1960s Italy, it is the story of two brothers, one a fascist and one a communist, and their fractured, tumultuous relationship. Stylistically, it is sometimes a bit of a mess. The direction, editing, and cinematography are erratic at times, but his can be overlooked due to the strong performances and interesting premise. However, what could have been a great movie is hindered by the fact that it never seems to be able to pick a lane and stick to it. See more 09/14/2020 One of the best movie ever See more 05/14/2020 Elio Germano è strepitoso e mette in ombra tutti gli altri attori. La storia di questi due fratelli di Latina è calzante e realistica. Il finale forse è leggermente troppo sbrigativo. See more 10/31/2015 an enjoyable Italian film about 2 brothers growing up in the 60's and the battling ideology of Communism and Fascism See more 04/24/2015 And it's good old Communist wisdom that saves the day ... See more 06/23/2013 Set in Italy in the 60s and 70s, two brothers fight over love and political ideas. The film loses flair as the film progresses and the filmmaker refuses to pick a predominant theme. The initial concept itself is good and original. See more Read all reviews
My Brother Is an Only Child

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Cast & Crew

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Daniele Luchetti

Director

Elio Germano

Accio Benassi

Riccardo Scamarcio

Manrico Benassi

Diane Fleri

Francesca

Alba Rohrwacher

Violetta Benassi

Angela Finocchiaro

Amelia Benassi
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My Brother Is an Only Child

My Brother Is an Only Child (2007) A scene from the film "My Brother Is an Only Child." A scene from the film "My Brother Is an Only Child." A scene from the film "My Brother Is an Only Child." A scene from the film "My Brother Is an Only Child." A scene from the film "My Brother Is an Only Child." My Brother Is an Only Child (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Two brothers living in Latina, Italy, grow up against the backdrop of the tumultuous Years of Lead. Manrico Benassi (Riccardo Scamarcio) joins the Communist party, while his impressionable younger brother, Accio (Elio Germano), returns from seminary school a full-blooded Fascist. As the years wear on, Accio and Manrico's family loyalty is tested by their political differences and their dueling loves for Francesca (Diane Fleri), a compassionate and intelligent activist.
Director
Daniele Luchetti
Producer
Riccardo Tozzi, Giovanni Stabilini, Marco Chimenz
Screenwriter
Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, Daniele Luchetti, Antonio Pennacchi
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Cattleya, Babe Films, StudioCanal
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 28, 2008, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 5, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$251.0K
Runtime
1h 39m