Parents' Guide to

Brother to Brother

By Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Bold, positive LGBTQ+ drama has sex, homophobia, language.

Movie NR 2004 94 minutes
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Despite its modest budget, this honorable drama that fearlessly portrays the lives of gay African American men through two different eras has become something of a cult favorite. An early leading role for Mackie centers Brother to Brother around central character Perry's internal and external conflicts, as he tries to come to terms with how he thinks and feels about the world's injustices and to learn more about them.

Not all of the cast can match Mackie's ability to turn what at times can feel like a lecture into something compelling. But the movie's attempt to educate its audience more about the Harlem Renaissance is admirable. Likewise, its unflinching examination of the homophobia that exists within Black communities allows Mackie to deliver some of its most effective moments. Unfortunately, the rest of the story struggles to sustain itself at times, while the ending is both sudden and predictable. That said, writer-director Rodney Evans rightly received praise for the intent and ambition of this, his debut feature.

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