Brødre (2004)

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Susanne Bier (story)
Anders Thomas Jensen (story)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Two brothers must negotiate changing roles and shifting family dynamics when one is sent to war in Afghanistan.

Plot Keywords:

Afghanistan | Brother | Prisoner | Cheating Wife | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

13 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Connie Nielsen	...	Sarah
Ulrich Thomsen	...	Michael
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Jannik
Sarah Juel Werner	...	Natalia
Rebecca Løgstrup	...	Camilla (as Rebecca Løgstrup Soltau)
Bent Mejding	...	Henning
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Else
Niels Olsen	...	Allentoft
Paw Henriksen	...	Niels Peter
Lars Hjortshøj	...	Preben 2
Lars Ranthe	...	Preben 1
André Babikian	...	Nadeem
Lene Maria Christensen	...	J. Solvej
Laura Bro	...	Ditte
Henrik Koefoed	...	Bartender

Also Known As:

Bröder (Sweden)
Brothers (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Denmark | UK | Sweden | Norway

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Belgium:KT | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | France:U | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Two Brothers Ltd.

Trivia:

Director Susanne Bier thought 'Connie Nielsen''s accent was more Swedish than Danish and made her take Danish lesson. Nielsen has been living in the USA for many years, and didn't speak Danish in her everyday life, but the result of the lessons turned out to be pretty good (though, still with a little accent).

Goofs:

Continuity: Sarah's pink scarf disappears and reappears several times in one of the scenes in the kitchen.

Quotes:

Michael: I will always love you. That is the only truth that remains. Life is neither right nor wrong, good or bad. But I love you. That's all I know.

Movie Connections:

References Beauty and the Beast (1991)

War is hell!

I've been there. I've had the training. I know what you are supposed to do. But sometimes life happens when you are looking the other way. Two brothers - one a criminal and the other a soldier; one a respected member of society, and the other the shame of his family; one just out of prison, and the other off to Afghanistan.

Writer/director Susanne Bier presents a compelling drama that examines how people react to stress, and how people can suddenly change when circumstances call for it. It was beautifully shot, it has a compelling score, and it had one of the most beautiful actresses of our time in Connie Nielsen.

Nielsen was incredible as the wife of the soldier (Ulrich Thomsen), trying to keep things together when he was reported dead. She had to show even greater strength when he returned damaged by the war. In the middle was the younger brother (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who stepped in to help with Michael's two daughters.

The story of this family and how they dealt with tragedy was compelling. Anyone who has a family member come back from war can relate.

It is not to be missed.