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Brothers

Play trailer Poster for Brothers R Released May 13, 2005 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 72 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When Danish army officer Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) is sent to Afghanistan, his mission quickly goes awry, leading to his imprisonment. When news of Michael's disappearance and presumed death reaches home, his errant, drifter brother, Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), mends his ways to provide support for Michael's family and wife, Sarah (Connie Nielsen). Eventually, Jannik and Sarah develop deep feelings for one another. However, when Michael is rescued and returned home, things take a dark turn.

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Brothers

Brothers

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Critics Consensus

This tense, understated drama explores the complications of individual and social ethics stemming from the repercussions of war on one man and his family.

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Critics Reviews

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Brandon Judell indieWire Emotionally commanding. Jun 14, 2018 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Taut and unexpected, Brothers is gripping from start to finish. Feb 28, 2018 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Rated: 3/5 Oct 16, 2006 Full Review Jules Brenner Filmcritic.com if every film I see is as satisfying a complex human drama as this, I wouldn't have much to gripe about. Rated: 4/5 Sep 18, 2007 Full Review Enrique Buchichio Uruguay Total Un drama familiar intimista y bien actuado sobre los efectos que puede producir un trauma en la vida de las personas, y sobre la oportunidad de cambiar. Rated: 3/5 Mar 4, 2007 Full Review Rex Roberts Film Journal International A poignant reminder that social issues, in the end, are personal matters. Feb 22, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member BROTHERS - the Danish original by Ace-directoress Susanne Bier ( forget the US-remake), Brødre .... en film af Susanne Bier. +++ As always with me: no content information - no SPOILERs: the first movie I saw from probably the world's best female director Susanne Bier, was at that time a certain "After the Wedding" (ATW) from the year of 2006. Actually, the Anti-Cover with a blurred Mads M. in the local library was far from the blockbuster. Everything smelled like extreme Dogma-film, which are often very hard to watch. But this film was just brilliant. I would call him a dogma-light - and this kind of film, typically from Denmark, is exactly my cup of tea. And "Brothers" has similarities to ATW in style. The heart-rending and really sad story is told without any kitsch and totally moved me. All characters act completely credible and transparently and one suspects, that factors like fate and chance, might turn the constellations of relationships into a human tragedy. Just fantastic how the honest script and also the direction merge the gear wheels of the plot together!!! The camera is also extremely close and personal with the feelings of the characters - very often hands, lips and eyes in close-up. Simply breathtaking, I must confess .... But clearly: Screenplay - Anders Thomas Jensen and Director - Susanne Bier are a stellar constellation, enabling little Denmark to compete with the best of the best from the mighty United States. 5 years ago now, I became a huge fan of them both. The actors play all just wonderful and believable, so I imagined myself almost in a documentary - a greater compliment, I just cannot make. Again, Denmark delivers worldclass. Above all, this "Brødre - Brothers" so is far superior to the American remake of Jim Sheridan (who also is a good director) For a wider audience, this remake is just prone to too many compromises and softens the harsh reality of the sady-sad Story too much. Conclusion: to me - besides ATW - the strongest Susanne Bier film, even better than the also strong "Hævnen - in a Better World '(2010) and her first US film" Things We Lost in the Fire "(2007) starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro. Rating = 95% (MASTERPIECE) ###################################################################################95% Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Hard for me to evaluate this one, since I saw the remake first and it mostly takes up my memory. The remake seems to closely follow the original in this case. I'd say the original is right there with the remake, though in hindsight the remake wasn't necessary. I'm glad this is what got Susanne Bier's career going, though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Can't believe how good this movie is. The Danish version Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A good movie that shows personal repercussions of war. Its far from the perfect movie but it does have heart and good performances, lacking in the direction. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member well crafted and executed drama Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I wanted to rate this lower because of how dogshit ugly it is to look at, but the subtle, complex script and fine acting won me over in the end. It really is offensive to the eye though. It looks like a TV show. The scenes in Afghanistan are particularly unconvincing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Brothers

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Cast & Crew

Open Hearts 93% 90% Open Hearts Watchlist In a Better World 77% 86% In a Better World Watchlist After the Wedding 87% 87% After the Wedding Watchlist Fierce People 24% 58% Fierce People Watchlist Forty Shades of Blue 63% 44% Forty Shades of Blue Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis When Danish army officer Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) is sent to Afghanistan, his mission quickly goes awry, leading to his imprisonment. When news of Michael's disappearance and presumed death reaches home, his errant, drifter brother, Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), mends his ways to provide support for Michael's family and wife, Sarah (Connie Nielsen). Eventually, Jannik and Sarah develop deep feelings for one another. However, when Michael is rescued and returned home, things take a dark turn.
Director
Susanne Bier
Producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Sisse Graum Jørgensen
Screenwriter
Susanne Bier, Anders Thomas Jensen
Distributor
IFC Films
Rating
R (Language|Brief Nudity|Nudity|Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Danish
Release Date (Theaters)
May 13, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$385.0K
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround
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