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Propelled by the pulsing beats of Toronto’s early hip hop scene, Brother is the story of Francis and Michael, sons of Caribbean immigrants maturing into young men. Exploring themes of masculinity,identity and family, a mystery unfolds during the sweltering summer of 1991, and escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of the brothers' lives forever. Brother crafts a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of a community, and the irrepressible power of music.
The Garden Cinema View:
Brother is a powerful and rich tale about brotherly love, resilience, and identity, set within the Caribbean community in Scarborough, Canada. This film breaks away from the overly white, and sanitised onscreen depictions of Canada, delving into issues such as systemic racism, generational trauma, and the strong ties within the Black community.
Using a slow but elegant narrative that centres on the two outstanding performances of the sibling characters (Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre), Vigo treats his subjects with respect and not as abstract representations of black lives, bringing into the foreground their unique energies and sexualities.
Brother masterfully weaves together three distinct timelines from different points in the siblings' lives, allowing audiences to connect the dots and reach their own conclusions. With elliptical dialogue, the story is brilliantly conveyed by the highly textured art design and the carefully crafted cinematography.
Brother is one of the most emotionally impactful and thought-provoking films Canada has offered in a long time and we highly encourage our audience to experience it on the big screen.
Cast:
Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre, Marsha Stephanie Blake