THE BROTHERHOOD OF JUSTICE

US, 1986, 87 minutes, Colour.
Kiefer Sutherland, Keanu Reeves, Billy Zane, Joe Spano, Don Michael Paul.
Directed by Charles Braverman.

The Brotherhood of Justice is a telemovie showing vigilante attitudes and the maintaining of law and order. However, it has a difference. In the mid-'80s, with the emphasis on maintaining law and order and the popularity of vigilante films (for example those of Charles Bronson), this film shows a group in a high school taking it on themselves to punish those breaking the law. Ultimately, the film comes out against the vigilantes as they become enthused by their own power and excited by their exercise of violence.

The film stars Keanu Reeves (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Dangerous Liaisons, Parenthood). Kiefer Sutherland also has a supporting role. The film shows vividly the problems in the high schools and the town, the response of the boys, the exercise of their maintaining law and order and its going over the top. The film raises questions about American society of the '80s, the problems - and the dangers of the vigilante and the harsh right-wing approach.

Of interest for discussion by teenagers, parents and teachers.

1.Interesting telemovie? For what audience? Themes of teenagers, law and order, vigilantes?

2.The American city, suburbs, homes? The school atmosphere? The take-away food centre? Musical score?

3.The title, its themes, ironies?

4.The introduction to the film with the vandalism, the principal and his strong stand, his rousing speech, the students with the standing ovation?

5.Derek and his wealthy background, alone with his brother, his friendship with Christy? His group of friends in the school, his status? The football team? The meetings, the decision about law and order, the formation of the brotherhood, its rituals? Motivation? The attacking of the group at the party - with Halloween masks, with the red hand? The group getting a taste for this kind of action? Weapons, knives? The stabbing of a victim? The destroying of the car? The bashing of the drug dealer in the toilet? The threats to Victor? Their discussions, in the gymnasium, the rules, weapons?

6.Derek and his involvement, at school, a hero to the young kids imitating him? The discovery about his brother and the drugs? Bashing the dealer in the toilet? Vengeance and law and order? Self-appointed? Righteous? His relationship with each of the group, friendship with Mule, tension with Lass? Standing up Christy, her negative attitude? The encounters with Victor and the tension? The principal and his speech? Becoming more wary, the violence? The decision of Scott to leave the group? His clash with the others? With Lass? With Mule? The discussion with Christy and her asking him to leave? Going to warn Victor about the car? The reasons for his going to the police? The arrests?

7.Christy, student, ordinary, working? Love for Derek? Her influence on him? The friendship with Victor? Her disgust at the action of the brotherhood?

8.Victor as pleasant, friendship with Christy, helping her out, helping the victim attacked at the food centre? The car bomb and his reaction?

9.Mule and his eagerness, force within the group? Lass and his violence and leadership? The information gatherer and his supplying all the information, his eagerness to join in? Scott as a member, his decision to leave? The big member of the group and his violence?

10.As types, their confrontations with their victims, violence, getting their kicks out of this kind of action? Its effect on them? Not wanting to stop, the beer-drinking meeting, planting the bomb?

11.The ugliness of their action - ordinary students? Transformed?

12.The sketch of the police, their investigations? The principal, his concern about law and order? His speech urging the students to break up the brotherhood?

13.The impact of the ending, the final credits and the stills of the arrests?

14.The film presenting the plausibility of forming vigilante groups? Its critique of such groups?