Brother

2022

Action / Drama / Music

6
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 87% · 46 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 80% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 1674 1.7K

toronto, canada family relationships coming of age gay interest masculinity mother son relationship

Director

Clement Virgo Photo
Clement Virgo

Top cast

Dillon Jagersky Photo
Dillon Jagersky as White Bouncer #1
Aaron Pierre Photo
Aaron Pierre as Francis
Franco Lo Presti Photo
Franco Lo Presti as Reilly
Karl Campbell Photo
Karl Campbell as Black Bouncer
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.08 GB
1280*536
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 0 min
Seeds 1
2.21 GB
1920*804
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 0 min
Seeds 5

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by proud_luddite 8 / 10

very good

Based on the novel by David Chariandy: in the 1990s in the Scarborough suburb of Toronto, Ruth (Marsha Stephanie Blake) is a Jamaican immigrant raising her teenage sons Francis (Aaron Pierre) and Michael (Lamar Johnson). Non-linear storytelling is used in three different time periods to show the family's struggles, strengths, and life-changing events.Many small scenes are used in the storytelling and they work very well. Even though the multiple time lines are challenging at first, this method pays off very well. This is mainly because the later time-frame indicates that a serious change has happened in the middle time period. The viewer is left curious as to what mysterious event will happen in the middle frame as the film is nearing its end. So, while the climax is in the middle time-frame, it ends up being exposed near the film's end rather than in the middle as it would have in a linear time frame.The film's first half is depressing as it exposes hardships with very few lighter moments to relieve the sadness. While this would be a handicap for other films, "Brother" works well in channeling the mood to melancholy in its last quarter as it pieces all the mysteries together so compassionately. It is also accompanied beautifully by the song "Ne Me Quitte Pas" sung by Nina Simone. In fact, director/writer Clement Virgo uses music beautifully throughout his fine film with an impressive score by Todor Kobakov."Brother" uses various themes effectively including police brutality; the poor immigrant experience; exploitive talent contests in the 1990s in Toronto (and the false hope and heartbreak that arise); and the terrible effects from grief. This film is courageous in its detailed focus on grief which is rare and praiseworthy.The main performances are powerful especially Johnson whose character is the main focus of the film and Blake whose character changes significantly in different time periods. - dbamateurcritic.
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Reviewed by reneenrose 8 / 10

Very reminiscent

Wow. I grew up in Scarborough during that era. Same type of thing. My sister and we're children Jamaican immigrant parents. We lived in several buildings. Super rough areas. It brought back so many memories. We saw a lot of violence. Had a lot of amazing friends in the same situation as me. We all became so close back then. Still are today. I miss the music. They really did the era Justice. The acting was excellent. Story was very believable. I find that hardship can make people's bond in a a way little else does. I wish there were more movies around this time about the way we grew up. Kudos to the actors, director, writer!

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