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Brother
to Brother,
2004, 90 minutes, Not Rated
By Ramona Prioleau
In
Brother to Brother, writer/director Rodney Evans makes a
magnificent narrative feature film debut that includes a stellar cast
of primarily NY thespians. Anthony Mackie (She Hate
Me), as Perry,
leads the talented cast in a journey of life-affirming growth and
discovery.
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Mackie's Perry is a
welcome addition to the depiction of Black men on screen. Portrayed
and created with depth, Perry is a richly nuanced character worthy of
greater study and reflection. Mackie's wonderfully crafted portrait
reveals the heart and soul of an intensely lonely young man struggling
to reconcile his identity as a gay man of African descent in a
contemporary cultural setting that is in large part disdainful of his
lifestyle. Adding to Perry's turmoil is his recognition as an avante
garde artist and his banishment from his father's home at a period in
his life when he desperately needs to be loved. But where Perry
believes he needs a romantic relationship, fate gives him what he
truly requires - brotherly love. In one instance, it's a long-term
affection that Perry tends to overlook and in another it's a newfound
tenderness that satisfies his yearning for a patriarch.
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Occasionally,
Perry bemoans his misfortune for being alone, but his friend Marcus
(Larry Gilliard, Jr. in a strong performance) is quick to remind him
that he has been in Perry's corner since childhood - even fighting the
baseball bully for Perry when the situation demanded. The relationship
between Perry and Marcus is a pleasure to watch as it serves as a much
needed counterpoint to cinematic portrayals that suggest that all
straight black men are homophobic. Moreover, it presents a lifelong
bond so rock solid that there is no doubting its sincerity. MORE >>>
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© 2004 Wolfe
Roger
Robinson (Bruce Nugent) and Anthony Mackie (Perry) in Brother to
Brother
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The
fraternal bond given greater prominence in the film is that between
Perry and the elder Bruce Nugent (Roger Robinson). It is through his
relationship with Bruce that Perry fully blossoms and is able to come
to terms with his pride in his sexuality and his race. As these were
issues that Nugent similarly wrestled with in his youth, Perry
benefits greatly from Nugent's understanding ear, sage advice and
colorful anecdotes.
While Nugent mesmerizes
Perry with stories of his artistic heyday during the Harlem
Renaissance, black & white images depict a young Nugent (Duane
Boutte) in the 1920's urban artistic commune known as "Niggerati
Manor." This community of writers included the renowned Langston
Hughes (Daniel Sunjata), Wallace Thurmond (Ray Ford) and Zora Neale
Hurston (vibrantly captured by Aunjanue Ellis) all of whom live, love
and create together. Through Nugent's reflections, Perry comes to
understand that struggles with identity and artistic integrity are
reconcilable. Moreover, Bruce's guidance is instrumental in Perry's
realization that maintaining a creatively open and vibrant existence
in a culture resistant to embracing diverse voices is not only
possible, it's necessary to elevate society and art in all its forms. MORE >>>
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© 2004 Wolfe
Daniel
Sunjata (Langston Hughes), Aunjanue Ellis (Zora Neale Hurston),
Ray Ford (Wallace Thurmond) and Duane Boutte (as the young Bruce
Nugent) in Brother to Brother
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That
writer/director Rodney Evans chooses to explore the story of a
contemporary artist's self-actualization with reference to a period in
African American history when artistic creativity swelled alongside
efforts to limit artistic expression to more genteel topics is
impressive because it not only infuses his narrative with visions of a
glorious literary past, it also cleverly connects that history to the
present and uses that history to educate, soothe and inspire new
generations. High marks to Evans for his passionate depiction of these
underrepresented experiences and images.
M
November 2004
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