Review: Brotherhood

Nicolo Donato’s Brotherhood is a well-made, earnest, film about two men -- members of a neo-Nazi group in Denmark -- who fall in love. Naturally, these are not the best circumstances for Lars (Thure Lindhardt), a former soldier, and Jimmy (David Dencik), a long time skinhead, to come out and come into their own.

In addition to praising Hitler and assaulting random Pakistani refugees in their small town, this group attacks “faggots” for sport. Brotherhood is certainly not an easy film to watch. It opens with an unapologetic and brutal beating of a gay youth in a park. Jimmy, it is clear, is conflicted about harming what could have been a potential lover. Therefore, he gets in the hardest, most forceful kick.

The film takes us inside the neo-Nazi group and asks us to sympathize with some of its members. Lars, for instance, is a smart, handsome young man who is forced to resign from the army because of rumors of homosexuality. He returns to his childhood home, lost and unhappy, bullied by his overbearing mother. By chance, he happens into the group and is embraced by its leader. Lars is skeptical, even critical. But he is also lonely.

The film tries to explain Lars’ motivation, coupled with his self-loathing. In yet another disturbing episode, Lars, pressured by this new found group of so-called friends, attacks a Pakistani refugee. We witness the unmistakable rush he experiences: adrenaline, excitement, even pleasure. Still, I could not understand. How could he do that?

The slow-building romance between Lars and Jimmy is tentative and tender. But these lovers, nonetheless, never made sense to me. The acts of violence and hatred they commit are so appalling, that by the film’s inevitable tragic end, I was unable to muster the requisite sympathy.

Starring: Thure Lindhardt (Lars), David Dencik (Jimmy), Nicolas Bro (Michael), Morten Holst (Patrick), Claus Flygare (Ebbe), Hanne Hedelund (Mother) and Lars Simonsen (Father).
Director: Nicolo Donato
Screenplay: Rasmus Birch and Mr. Donato
Distributor: Olive Films
Release Date: August 6, 2010 (limited)