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Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Songs My Brothers Taught Me 2016 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Johnny and his sister Jashuan live with their single mother on a reservation. When their absentee father dies, Johnny feels compelled to strike out for a new life in LA, but fears leaving his sister behind.
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Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

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Critics Consensus

A naturalistic drama that quietly earns its emotional resonance, Songs My Brothers Taught Me further establishes writer-director Chloé Zhao as a gifted filmmaker and empathetic storyteller.

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Critics Reviews

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Ian Freer Empire Magazine 04/14/2021
4/5
A striking debut from a blistering talent. What it lacks in narrative oomph it makes up for in beautiful imagery, natural performances and a worldview all its own. Go to Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 04/09/2021
4/5
Beguiling. Go to Full Review Ella Kemp Little White Lies 04/06/2021
4/5
The mystery and magic grow the longer you let it rest. Understated, but still impressive. Go to Full Review Annlee Ellingson CineWomen 07/29/2024
By casting and working with nonpros, from a treatment with scenes she wrote each morning, [Chloé] Zhao taps into stories — perhaps much like theirs — with authenticity and empathy. Go to Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) 02/13/2024
An impressionistic look at the American West and the complex relationship the Lakota Sioux have with their traditions and the world in which they now find themselves. Go to Full Review Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies 11/18/2022
70/100
Songs My Brothers Taught Me is visually composed primarily of many of the so called Zhao flourishes or stylings, with particularly harrowing moments defining character experience but not the narrative thrust. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nadyezhda L 10/07/2023 This was an early Zhao directed full length film using non-professional actors. There is little action and a loose plot, but the acting is real and thoroughly relatable. The setting is the Pine Ridge Reservation, and the cinematography is stunning. We are transported to the modern everyday lives of real people, real conflicts and real emotions. Some may say it is too slow, but like a long walk in nature on uneven ground and burrs in your socks, this film, this story, is well worth the patient effort. See more Viviana G 10/30/2022 Amazinglyl fantastic movie! So beautiful and moving! Go to see it now! See more viviana g 10/15/2022 It´s one of the most amazing movies I´ve seen in the last few years! I strongly recommend it! See more isla s 09/04/2022 This is a film about the indigineous people of America, which is what the director (Chloe Zhao) often focusses on - people on the outskirts of contemporary American culture, you could say, or else somewhat of a marginalised people. It has the look and feel of a documentary and it is sad to watch at times. I like the subtlety featured, which is continued in the directors later work. It deals with themes of rejection, adolescence and personal identity. It has less of a solid plotline type feel but its still a good watch, providing food for thought perhaps. See more 11/09/2021 A beautiful piece of Indigenous cinema. If you enjoyed Nomadland you should check out this film. See more 08/09/2021 One of the most fresh and exquisite directorial debuts I've seen, brought to life for its splendid unprofessional performances, filling the film with emotion and soul. A tale, almost a fable, of outsiders' lifes, a wonderful portrait of people never seen, ignored, omitted. There's this something in Chloé Zhao's style, something mystical and whimsical, as well as mesmerizing. Hypnotic See more Read all reviews
Songs My Brothers Taught Me

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Cast & Crew

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Chloé Zhao

Director

Irene Bedard

Lisa Winters

Dakota Brown

Dakota FIre Thunder

Cat Clifford

Cat Clifford

Jorge Dullknife

Jorge Iron Bear

Taysha Fuller

Aurelia Clifford

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Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Songs My Brother Taught Me: Trailer 1 Songs My Brother Taught Me: Trailer 1 2:00 View more videos
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Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Poster Art Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) John Reddy as Johnny Winters in "Songs My Brothers Taught Me." Jashaun St. Jogn as Jashaun Winters in "Songs My Brothers Taught Me." (L-R) John Reddy as Johnny Winters and Jashaun St. Jogn as Jashaun Winters in "Songs My Brothers Taught Me." Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Johnny and his sister Jashuan live with their single mother on a reservation. When their absentee father dies, Johnny feels compelled to strike out for a new life in LA, but fears leaving his sister behind.
Director
Chloé Zhao
Producer
Mollye Asher, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Angela C. Lee, Forest Whitaker
Screenwriter
Chloé Zhao
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Production Co
Significant Productions, Highwayman Films, HEART-headed Productions, Film Independent
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.2K
Runtime
1h 41m
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