Brothers (2004)

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

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Susanne Bier (story), Anders Thomas Jensen (story)

Stars:

Ulrich Thomsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Connie Nielsen

13 wins & 21 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

Storyline

Michael has everything under control: a successful military career, a beautiful wife and two daughters. His younger brother Jannik is a drifter, living on the edge of the law. When Michael is sent to Afghanistan on a UN mission the balance between the two brothers changes forever. Michael is missing in action - presumed dead - and Sarah is comforted by Jannik, who against all odds shows himself capable of taking responsibility for both himself and the family. It soon becomes clear that their feelings have developed beyond mutual sympathy. When Michael comes home, traumatized by being held prisoner in the mountains of Afghanistan, nothing is the same...

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Plot Keywords:

afghanistan | prisoner | husband wife relationship | mental breakdown | gun | 

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Taglines:

A Sundance 2005 Audience Award Winner

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Susanne Bier requested that the actors use as little makeup as possible.

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Goofs

In the rear passenger window when Henning gets in the car after the service.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Skam: Mannen i mitt liv (2016)

User Reviews

Great movie - extreme emotions in real people

A man and his family suffer when he cannot talk about the extreme decisions he has had to make - and live with. Anyone who has friends or relatives that have been in a warzone or war-like conditions will recognize the strong emotions that sometimes take control of people when they come back into their daily realities. It portrays a man who seems to have lost control and brings home a lot of repressed anger, which almost costs him his family. Great movie with a great story and great acting portraying real ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Part of this movies strong emotional impact comes from the use of hand-held camera and lots of wonderful close-ups. Near-life, near-reality, near-death

Details

Official Sites:

IFC Films Official Site [Denmark]

Country:

Denmark UK Sweden Norway

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Brothers

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,161, 8 May 2005

Gross USA:

$389,220

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$489,706

Company Credits

Production Co:

Two Brothers Ltd., Fjellape Film AS, Memfis Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1