BROTHERHOOD/ BRODERSKAB
Denmark, 2009, 97 minutes, Colour.
Thure Linhardt, David Dencik, Nicolas Bro, Morten Holst.
Directed by Nicolo Donato.
Brotherhood is a striking Danish film which focuses on contemporary social issues in Europe – which were to which were to increase in the ensuing years.
The film opens with a gay bashing, an introduction to a Brotherhood which turns out to be a white supremacist, neo-Nazi group, tattooes, flags, books and Heil Hitler.
Then the film transfers to a military interview with Lars, the central character, being criticised for making advances to his men, and his decision to leave the Army, pressurised to do something by his politician mother, but working on a farm, encountering the neo-Nazi group, going to a beach party, being persuaded in angry reaction to bash a migrant, then becoming further involved with the group.
While the film shows the background of the neo-Nazis and their ideologies (including a fanaticism about harmony with nature and natural foods), it focuses on Lars and his going to a beachside house to help another member, Jimmy, to renovate. There is an immediate hostility but which changes and Lars makes a sexual advance to Jimmy and they begin a relationship.Jimmy’s brother, Patrick, expecting to be part of the neo-Nazi hierarchy, but a drug addict, is angry and jealous.
As might be expected, Lars is challenged, the group persuading Jimmy to bash him, the two deciding to leave only to be confronted by the group and Jimmy being hospitalised. The film stops, leaving it to the audience to wonder what will happen…
Lars is played by Thurie Lindhardt (Angels and Demons) and Jimmy by David Dencik, Swedish actor in international films including Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy.
An interesting look at movements which were to become stronger during the Syrian Civil War and the waves of migrants coming to Europe.
1. A Danish drama, topical issues of the early 21st century, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, advocates of harmony with nature, gay bashing?
2. The settings, homes, farms, houses by the sea, the military, the meetings of the neo-Nazis? The musical score?
3. The title, the supremacists, the bond between Lars and Jimmy?
4. The prologue, the gay young man, the meeting in the dark, stripping, the brotherhood coming and the bashing, in hospital? The later fear of the brotherhood that the victim would go to the police?
5. The transition to Lars, the military interview, the accusation that he was propositioning the men (and the audience assuming he was not, but the later revelation about his orientation)? His decision to leave the Army, going home, his politician mother and her insistence, his more passive father, his mother’s intervention and the letter, his reactions, not knowing what to do, working on the farm with the cattle?
6. The approach by the Brotherhood? Fatty and his interest in Lars? The encounter, the discussion, the invitation to the party? Lars, not interested, yet going, his mixed motivations? The encounter with the men and women on the beach? The neo-Nazis? The meetings, saying that he didn’t want to join? Fatty being urbane in manner but later revelation of his violence?
7. His reaction against his parents? The bashings? His change of heart? Fatty’s invitation, the meetings, the discussions, his contributions about logos, flyers? His becoming more involved?
8. The group, Fatty and his leadership, the ideologies, the skinheads, their motivations, not intelligent, not readers, following the leaders, the exhilaration of the violence, belonging to a cause? The irony of their interest in non-genetically modified foods, harmony with nature?
9. Lars, the invitation, the books for him to read, his leaving home, the arrangement for him to go to the house by the sea, with Jimmy, Jimmy’s hostility? The working together, the swimming, the intimations of attraction?
10. Lars, the drinking, initiating the contact with Jimmy, Jimmy’s response? The passionate relationship? The morning after, hesitation, the mutual consent?
11. Patrick, drugs, drinking, expecting to be part of the brotherhood, Jimmy’s rebukes, Patrick’s visit, high, observing the two together? The consequences?
12. Lars at home, the story of the bashing – and the incident with Lars being incited to throw the rock at the hostel window, the bashing of the man, the report in the media – and Lars telling his parents that he did it? The group wanting headlines and publicity?
13. Lars, second thoughts, the meeting with the boss, Ebbe and his encouraging the young men, the visit to the house and his commendation?
14. The group learning about Jimmy and Lars, Fatty and the instigation, getting Jimmy to bash Lars, his doing it, his grief, tending to Lars? The bashing of Jimmy, in hospital, coma? Patrick and his regrets?
15. Larson Jimmy, the plan to leave, the car, the assault?
16. The film stopping – and leaving it to the audience to think about the brotherhood and their attitudes, their violent behaviour, Jimmy and his recovery or not, Lars and his future?
