Brother Born Again (2001)

Filmmaker Julia Pimsleur used to make up elaborate lies about her brother Marc, rather than explain that he had dropped out of college, turned his back on his Jewish heritage and moved to a... See full summary »

Director:

Julia Pimsleur

Stars:

Julia Pimsleur, Katy Chevigny, Lucas Clark

Cast

Credited cast:
Julia Pimsleur	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Katy Chevigny	...	Herself
Lucas Clark	...	Himself
Stan Koehler	...	Himself - Religious advisor
Michael O'Connell	...	Himself
Beverly Pimsleur	...	Herself
Marc Pimsleur	...	Himself

Storyline

Filmmaker Julia Pimsleur used to make up elaborate lies about her brother Marc, rather than explain that he had dropped out of college, turned his back on his Jewish heritage and moved to a Christian commune in Alaska. She and her mother initially feared that Marc had joined a cult. This documentary traces Julia's efforts to understand his conversion and to revive their relationship, despite her fundamentalist brother's disapproval of her bisexuality. Julia travels from New York City to her brother's religious community, where she and Marc search for common ground and discover the meaning of family.

---

Plot Keywords:

jewish | cult | family relationships | sociology | born again christian | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Details

Official Sites:

Big Mouth Productions

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hoonah, Alaska, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Engine, Big Mouth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Jew-Lia"
Composed by Dennis Mitcheltree
Performed by the Dennis Mitcheltree Trio

User Reviews

Gentle metaphor for culture wars

Autobiographical documentary directed by and starring Julia Pimsleur in which she films her reunion with her long lost brother, Marc. Julia is a bisexual New York Jewish film maker and Yale grad, and brother has dropped out of UC Berkley, become a born-again Christian, and moved for the past ten years to a commune of like-minded folk on an Alaska farm.

At the risk of a plot spoiler, there is sort of no punch line or expose to this reunion. Brother is about as loopy as any born-again Christian, and sister is a bit annoying in trying to bait her brother into a debate, but ultimately they both accept each other, and there is nothing to suggest any improper activity or compulsion at work on the commune. Where the film is interesting is as a positive role model for how real people at opposite ends of the current culture wars can hang together in peace.

Its hard to know how to rate a personal film with minimal production values that you watch on the web. Are we comparing it to Casablanca? Or to home movies on YouTube? I will say that it is interesting and worthwhile.