Human Nature (2001 film)

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For other meanings, see Human nature (disambiguation).

Human Nature
Directed byMichel Gondry
Written byCharlie Kaufman
Produced byAnthony Bregman,
Ted Hope,
Spike Jonze,
Charlie Kaufman,
StudioCanal/Good Machine
StarringPatricia Arquette
Rhys Ifans
Tim Robbins
Miranda Otto
Distributed byFine Line Features (USA),
Pathé (UK)
Release dates
April 12, 2002
Running time
96 min.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6,000,000


Human Nature is a 2001 comedy film, written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. It is Kaufman's second screenplay to be produced, after his debut with Being John Malkovich and stars Tim Robbins, Rhys Ifans, and Patricia Arquette. A philosophical burlesque, Human Nature follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan (Robbins) trains the wild man, Puff (Ifans) in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila (Arquette) fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most. In the power struggle that ensues, an unusual love triangle emerges exposing the perversities of the human heart and the idiosyncrasies of the civilized mind. Human Nature is a comical examination of the trappings of desire in a world where both nature and culture are idealized.


It is loosely based on the Björk music video Human Behaviour which Michel Gondry directed in 1993.