Cinema in Focus: ‘Brothers’

http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/121009_cinema_in_focus_brothers/

By Hal Conklin and Denny Wayman

This powerful film portrays complex family and societal issues

3 Stars — Powerful

Although simply titled Brothers, Jim Sheridan’s film is far more complicated than its title implies.

It’s a film about two brothers and the complex bond male siblings experience, but it’s also a film about the effects of generational dysfunction, the trauma of war, the psychological effects of kidnapping and torture, and the impact of war on military marriages and families. Other themes of the film include the competitive insecurities of two brothers who fall in love with the same woman, and the need for confession in order for forgiveness and resolution to be possible.

The two brothers follow common family roles identified by therapists. The first-born, Capt. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), is the hero of the family. The quarterback of his high school football team, Sam is his father Hank’s (Sam Shepherd) obvious favorite. This is only reinforced when Sam chooses a career as a Marine, following in his father’s footsteps. But Sam’s war experiences in Afghanistan impair his ability to be an effective, loving father — just as his father’s war experiences in Vietnam had done decades earlier.

The second-born son, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), is the family rebel. Growing up in the shadow of his heroic brother, Tommy turns in the opposite direction and ends up in prison after attempting to rob his small town’s bank. Labeled “a quitter” by his father, Tommy has little reason to develop maturity or responsibility until tragedy strikes.

The climax of the brothers’ relationship occurs after the news is received that Sam has been killed in battle and Tommy steps in to care for Sam’s widow, Grace (Natalie Portman), and her two daughters, Isabelle (Bailee Madison) and Maggie (Taylor Geare).

Well intentioned, the relationship meets longings in both Tommy and Grace in predictable ways. When Sam is found alive and rescued by U.S. forces, his return home is troubled, not only because of his jealousy of Tommy’s relationship with his wife and daughters, but also because of his guilt over his behavior while in captivity.

A rich film with excellent acting and character development, this powerful portrayal of family life affected by war is a valuable insight for all of us.

Discussion:

» McGuire’s brooding portrayal of the older brother, Sam, allows us to experience the price he was paying to be the hero of the family. Do you believe he was following his own path, or was he scripted by his father as Tommy accuses?

» The fact that Tommy and Grace were not intimate doesn’t change the reality that they had fallen in love. Do you believe it’s possible for Grace to return her heart to Sam?

» When Grace tells Maj. Cavazos (Clifton Collins Jr.) that she can’t “feel” Sam’s death, Cavazos assumes it’s just denial. Do you believe we can “feel” a loved one’s death even if we are not near them? Why?

— Cinema in Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary. Hal Conklin is former mayor of Santa Barbara and Denny Wayman is pastor of Free Methodist Church, 1435 Cliff Drive. For more reviews, visit www.cinemainfocus.com.

http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/121009_cinema_in_focus_brothers/