Brother

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1:59

Brother

Released Aug 4, 2023

1h 59m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Adapted from David Chariandy's award-winning novel of the same name, Brother is propelled by the pulsing beats of Toronto's early hip hop scene following the story of Francis (Lamar Johnson) and Michael (Aaron Pierre), sons of Caribbean immigrants maturing into young men. A mystery unfolds during the sweltering summer of 1991, and escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of these brothers' lives forever. Brother crafts a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of community and the irrepressible power of music.

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Critics Consensus

Deeply felt and emotionally resonant, Brother overcomes its imposing length and a certain narrative familiarity with riveting performances and stunning cinematography.

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Isabelle Gray

Little White Lies

Not entirely original, but does what it does very well indeed.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 26, 2023

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Virgo does a great job of confounding our expectations of macho masculinity, finding tenderness, protectiveness and even neediness beneath the street-tough exterior.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 17, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

There are fine performances on display and Johnson especially is perfectly nervy as Michael. But the storytelling here could have easily squeezed into a short film or, even better, a slickly shot music video.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 16, 2023

Full Review

William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Immaculately structured and impressively transferred from page to screen, Brother retains the ferocity, tangibility and emotional heft of David Chariandy’s novel.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 13, 2024

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Carmen Paddock

The Skinny

Elegant and elegiac, Brother is a poignant portrait of the messiness of love and loss – be that within a family or an entire community. Even if its ending feels inevitable, the path taken is remarkable.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 6, 2023

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Kevin Harley

Radio Times

Johnson and Pierre suggest decades of fraternal feeling with their soulful performances, while Blake is revelatory as their tough but tender mum.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 29, 2023

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xxiv a

. The movie tells the touching and powerful story of two brothers growing up in Toronto, navigating the challenges of life and family. The emotional depth of their journey is beautifully captured through excellent acting and stunning cinematography. The film’s narrative is compelling and resonates deeply, making it a must-watch for anyone who appreciates heartfelt and well-crafted stories. Definitely oscar worthy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

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Deniece W

Very underrated movie, great casting, visuals, and storytelling. Aaron Pierre is definitely a rising star to be on the lookout for!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie! Interesting, realistic, moving. My only complaint is that the timeline of events is confusing. Great acting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

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OfficalReal v

A lot of people might think its too slow, I think the pace of the movie is one of its many sharms. There might be some small flaws but are easily overlooked by a great plot, acting and storytelling without over doing it like many movies do! Bravo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

dave d

Adapted from a novel of the same name. 'Brother' has tender moments that are worth the wait despite the narrative being mostly stuck in the mud. Your milage may vary how much you want to travel back and forth in time, however the mixed bag was definitely more filled than empty thanks to some riveting performances. While it is set in Toronto, it has a feel of being anywhere in the USA. While the two brothers are different, it is the mother and a girl that seems to connect the duo in different ways. Final Score: 6.7/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

Full Review

Sal D

Poignant drama with excellent performances. The director’s use of fragments makes us for the screenplay’s shortcomings. Had the film been trimmed to a tight 85-90 minutes or invested more time in the connection between the brothers and/or brother Michael’s three dimensional grief (at points, his character is a bit stick figure like), this movie had potential to be a 4 or 4+ star film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/24

Full Review

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Clement Virgo

Director

Lamar Johnson

Michael

Aaron Pierre

Francis

Marsha Stephanie Blake

Ruth

Kiana Madeira

Aisha

Lovell Adams-Gray

Jelly

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Brother: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Adapted from David Chariandy's award-winning novel of the same name, Brother is propelled by the pulsing beats of Toronto's early hip hop scene following the story of Francis (Lamar Johnson) and Michael (Aaron Pierre), sons of Caribbean immigrants maturing into young men. A mystery unfolds during the sweltering summer of 1991, and escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of these brothers' lives forever. Brother crafts a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of community and the irrepressible power of music.

Director: Clement Virgo
Producer: Clement Virgo, Damon D'Oliveira, Aeschylus Poulos, Sonya Di Rienzo
Screenwriter: Clement Virgo
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Hawkeye Pictures, Conquering Lion Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2023
Runtime: 1h 59m

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