Blood Brother 2013
Distributed by Tugg, Inc., 855-321-8844
Produced by Danny Yourd
Directed by Steve Hoover
DVD , color, 93 min.
College - General Adult
India, Psychology, Drama, Storytelling, Travel and Tourism
Date Entered: 09/27/2013
Reviewed by Ryan Luce, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NYBlood Brother is a gripping documentary about one man’s journey to India to volunteer at an orphanage for women and children who have HIV. The documentary explores how the main character, Rocky deals with the traumatic deaths of children and the hope he gives them by being a father figure.
The film briefly goes over Rocky’s tough childhood but never makes a link to how his “family” in India has taken over that role. The film was shot by his friend Steve and because they are so close some of the movie suffers from honestly understanding why Rocky has chosen to stay in this desolate place. Much of the film is filled with the children who have very different personalities but the documentary only shows one story about how the children of one family were brought there.
The cinematography and editing are some the best in documentary film making today. The film shows the beauty and desolation of India. The editing allows for a steady pace, that shows a man trying to save children from dying in a harsh environment. In the end, the man finds that he can continue to live here but Blood Brother only skims the deeper details of this orphanage and the people who live in it.
Awards
- Sundance 2013 Grand Jury Prize, Sundance 2013 Audience Award
- Hot Docs 2013 Audience Award
- Thessalonski Documentary Festival Audience Award
- Atlanta 2013 Audience Award for Best Feature
- Milano Film Festival Awards Best Documentary
- Gdansk Documentary Festival Audience Award
- Big Sky Documentary Festival Audience Award
- Cinema for Peace Most Valuable Documentary of the Year
- Milano Film Festival Awards Best Editing