Brothers (Brødre, 2004)

Dogma is dead. The important 1995 Danish manifesto initiated by directors such as Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg had several sub-movements which led to really interesting titles such as The Idiots, Italian for Beginners and Festen. One of the last real (though rather blatant) Dogma titles, In Your Hands, proved the genre had worn out and Denmark needed to move on to a new era of cinema. Brothers (Brødre) provides a promising example of Danish film after Dogma, even though it has some typical Dogma elements such as the use of a hand-held camera and video.

The story focuses on two brothers, Michael and Jannik. Michael (played by Ulrich Thomsen) is a highly ranked military officer, about to set off to Afghanistan for a mission and Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) has just been released from prison after doing three years for armed robbery. When Michael’s helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, the news of his death has devastating consequences for his wife, Sarah (the first Danish role for Connie Nielsen), her children and Jannik. Filled with grief, Jannik and Sarah and her children become closer and closer. In the meantime, Michael, who is still alive is taken captive by Afghan guerrillas and is faced with one of the toughest decisions of his life in order to survive.

This is a really intense piece of work. It can be divided into two parts: the part in which Michael is presumed dead and the part in which he returns home confronted with how his wife and family have picked up the pieces and gone on with their lives. The acting is very convincing and the actors are very capable of transferring their characters’ emotions to the audience. This is pretty heavy stuff, but never loses grip of reality, because of the natural manner in which it is acted out. This small family drama is full of down to earth misery, however brought to the screen in a very respectful way. In fact, the drama is so intense, a feeling of uncomfortableness starts to arise when watching the truly personal and expressive scenes.

This is a film you feel within every vein in your body and it is hardly imaginable that you will not be moved by the intensity of the events the family is faced with. Although this is not really a Dogma film, some elements of it remain intact, adding to its realism. It is a nearly perfect insight into how people can lose themselves, if confronted by drastic events such as the (presumed) death of a loved one and how it affects family life.

Directed by: Susanne Bier
Starring: Ulrich Thomsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Connie Nielsen
Runtime: 110’
Release Dates: US: 6 May (in limited theaters), UK: 6 May, The Netherlands: 17 March
Official Website

Be Sociable, Share!

•