Brotherhood [Broderskab]

Dir: Nicolo Donato, Denmark, 2009, Digibeta, 90 mins, Danish with English subtitles

Disillusioned with his army career after allegations he made sexual advances towards the men of his platoon, Danish serviceman Lars decides to leave the army and move out of home, much to his controlling parents’ disgust. Looking for meaning in his life, he is drawn to a local gang of ultra-nationalist thugs whose leader sees potential in the smart, literate Lars. Due to his natural intellect, Lars rapidly rises through the ranks ahead of others in the neo-Nazi group.

Lars moves in with Jimmy, one of the most intense and violent of the members of the group. Despite an initial dislike of each other, they soon become firm friends. Before long that friendship becomes an intense sexual attraction, and they begin a secret affair. Their fascist colleagues would certainly not approve – and events take a darker turn when their illicit relationship in uncovered. 

An uncomfortable and at times horrifying film, appropriately shot in dark, grainy tones, there is no escaping the fact that this is a group of bigoted and violent men. It's soon obvious that Lars and Jimmy need to make a crucial decision and can't maintain their double lives for much longer. Brotherhood is a story about dangerous love and the search for identity.

Best Film – 2009 Rome Film Festival

“bleak yet compelling... an unsparing neo-noir with the structure and inevitability of classic drama…” – Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

“...intense... Thure Lindhardt and David Dencik are terrific in the lead roles, quietly grappling with the dichotomy of their violence toward minorities and their exploration of their own sexuality.” – Grant Butler, Portland Oregonian

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