This well made documentary involving the murder trial of an illiterate farmer in upstate New York is about as well made as they come. Delbert Ward, a simple farmer who could hardly read, is accused of killing his brother, Bill, in his sleep. Motives for the crime ranged from 'mercy killing' (his brother was sick at the time) to even the suggestion of a sex crime (the brothers shared the same bed all their lives and never had girlfriends). Delbert signed a confession but claims the police made him sign and agree to certain things that weren't true just so he can go home. When the charges were made the whole town of Munnsville, NY, came to Delberts side to defend him and even got money together to release him on bail. This film is an interesting look into the lives of simple people being confronted with 'big city' police and attorney tactics. Even after winning some awards from big film festivals no one bought the film so the filmmakers self-distributed the movie themselves, taking it from theater to theater. It is now one of the most successful self-distributed films of all time. It now has distribution and is well praised. Good Stuff!
30 Reviews
Class review
pwaldron-214 March 2008
We are a class of 8 that live in the town where the movie is filmed. We watched the movie and have gone over articles about the Ward brothers. The movie was riveting and very interesting. We weren't even born when this took place. Some of us had heard stories from our parents and grandparents and for the rest of the class this was the first time we heard about it. We feel the town has changed but the people are still the same. Even though the Ward brothers have passed on, their legacy still remains. They are still topics of conversations. We did not like it when Lyman was on the stand and having a nervous breakdown. Half the class feels he is not guilty and the other half are unsure. We are glad we got to see this film and read the stories.
The Munnsville Horror
EdgarST15 August 2008
This incursion into the private lives of rural people that turn public by exposition in the media had an eerie effect on me. It was a subjective reaction to a real story that has nothing sinister about it, but I was deeply distressed and somehow frightened by the realization of how some people still live isolated from the world, and in unhealthy conditions, while at the same time being in touch with a community that finds them eccentric but is ignorant of their dysfunctionality. The disturbing story of the four Ward brothers, farmers who lived like hermits in a shack until old age, is material for a Gothic novel or a psychological thriller. When one brother dies in 1990, and his younger brother Delbert is arrested for murder, the "Munnsville horror" begins, manipulated by the media while the community defends the accused. For their opera prima, directors Berlinger and Sinofsky spent more than a year with the case. The result was highly rewarding.
10/10
desperateliving22 October 2004
In a simple way this is just an "us and them" story, with the hardworking small town folk being treated like buffoons by the big, mean, well-groomed city justice people. But Berlinger and Sinofsky are far more talented than that, and their film ends up being one of the most human films I've ever seen in terms of their generosity to their subjects. It's generous because they don't put their views into the film, they don't decide how we should view the allegations, but at the same time don't restrict themselves from becoming somewhat involved in these brothers' lives.
At first we're inclined to look down on these brothers -- they rarely bathe, they're not educated, they can hardly hear what the documentarians say to them. They're completely unselfconscious. Our natural reaction is to place ourselves above them. But the filmmakers' greatness is in how within about half an hour we find ourselves connected to them as equals. In fact, we notice how philosophical they can be, maybe without realizing it -- without being treated like simpleminded saints. The directors give us a view of the townspeople, too, the Ward brother supporters, many of which are quite articulate themselves. (One elderly gentleman, a hard man from the outside, is surprisingly forward-thinking, when it's speculated that the brothers may have had an incestuous relationship, and he uses the word "gay" rather than the expected offensive term, and refers to the justice people as "narrow minded," and how whatever kind of relationship the bothers had, sexual or not, it should not have any bearing on the case.) There's one startling description of the brothers' love for one another, that if indeed one of the brothers did kill the other, it was in the same way he would have killed a sick and dying cow, paralyzed after giving birth. (There's one horrifying scene where a pig is killed that isn't quite as lovely.)
The communal, familial way in which the filmmakers interact with the brothers is exactly the same way these townspeople interact with one another. The construction of the film is just perfect for the entire film. It's uncomfortable without being cruel, it's friendly without being cloying, it's dark and disturbing without seeming phony. When joyful fiddle music plays after a scene, it's never mocking the way it would be in another film. (And one of the greatest scenes in the film is an image of a ragged man with his cows, and some very, very haunting violin music by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, whose entire score is outstanding, and anticipates "Fargo.") When the trial takes place, we're implicated because we don't know the truth. By this point we're so invested in these brothers that when one of them is on the bench, shaking and terrified from nervousness -- these brothers just don't have this kind of human contact -- the filmmakers have completely earned our tears. It's not a sentimental moment, it's as horrifying as the scene of the pig being killed. You feel as if the judicial system is raping this man of his dignity. This is a masterpiece. 10/10
At first we're inclined to look down on these brothers -- they rarely bathe, they're not educated, they can hardly hear what the documentarians say to them. They're completely unselfconscious. Our natural reaction is to place ourselves above them. But the filmmakers' greatness is in how within about half an hour we find ourselves connected to them as equals. In fact, we notice how philosophical they can be, maybe without realizing it -- without being treated like simpleminded saints. The directors give us a view of the townspeople, too, the Ward brother supporters, many of which are quite articulate themselves. (One elderly gentleman, a hard man from the outside, is surprisingly forward-thinking, when it's speculated that the brothers may have had an incestuous relationship, and he uses the word "gay" rather than the expected offensive term, and refers to the justice people as "narrow minded," and how whatever kind of relationship the bothers had, sexual or not, it should not have any bearing on the case.) There's one startling description of the brothers' love for one another, that if indeed one of the brothers did kill the other, it was in the same way he would have killed a sick and dying cow, paralyzed after giving birth. (There's one horrifying scene where a pig is killed that isn't quite as lovely.)
The communal, familial way in which the filmmakers interact with the brothers is exactly the same way these townspeople interact with one another. The construction of the film is just perfect for the entire film. It's uncomfortable without being cruel, it's friendly without being cloying, it's dark and disturbing without seeming phony. When joyful fiddle music plays after a scene, it's never mocking the way it would be in another film. (And one of the greatest scenes in the film is an image of a ragged man with his cows, and some very, very haunting violin music by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, whose entire score is outstanding, and anticipates "Fargo.") When the trial takes place, we're implicated because we don't know the truth. By this point we're so invested in these brothers that when one of them is on the bench, shaking and terrified from nervousness -- these brothers just don't have this kind of human contact -- the filmmakers have completely earned our tears. It's not a sentimental moment, it's as horrifying as the scene of the pig being killed. You feel as if the judicial system is raping this man of his dignity. This is a masterpiece. 10/10
Politics all over again..
SteffieB14 August 2007
I didn't think I was going to like this and I was very afraid that the Ward brothers and their rural lifestyle would be made fun of or otherwise trashed, but this was so thoughtful and careful in its examination. The political motivations of some of the real-life people: the cops, the medical examiner, the prosecutor, were a great foil for the (some would think surprisingly) open- minded townspeople and the hardworking defense attorney. Loved the story and really felt for the brothers and the townspeople. Though I work in Boston now, I've lived and worked in rural areas just like this, and maybe that's part of the deal for me.
one of the greatest films i have seen
gookie19 May 1999
i saw this on PBS a few years ago and it haunted me for days. this is a totally unique film experience unlike any you have had or can imagine. it is a documentary, but just as hoop dreams smashed all preconceptions of what a documentary can be, so does this. it is riveting, gut wrenching, and incredibly suspenseful. it shows you characters and a world that are totally new and captivating. it is heartbreaking and uplifting. it moved me in every way i have every been moved by a movie, but without being manipulative or maudlin. it is yet another brilliant documentary snubbed by those ingorami at the academy. i guarantee that you will not come out of this unchanged. it is one of the greatest films i have ever seen (and i have seen a great many...)
An interesting premise that just misses being more.
jeffro517-783-12195619 October 2013
Once in a while I find a documentary film that I can really sink my teeth into. Brother's Keeper is one of those films. Produced and directed by Joe Burlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, this film documents the murder accusation and trial of Delbert Ward. Ward had been accused of the mercy killing of his older brother and roommate who lived in a shack with him and his other two brothers.
The film sheds light onto a small segment of society in central New York state. The brothers worked a farm and lived in the poorest of conditions. None of them were educated and were mainly illiterate. The defense of Delbert would focus on the possible coercion of a confession and Delbert's illiteracy would be at issue. Other factors would include a number of forensic details that were disagreed upon amongst professionals.
Part of the amazing nature of the film is the sudden upwelling of support for Delbert and his brothers from the small farming community he lived in. Despite being seen as outsiders the Ward brothers gained the financial and moral support of a community who didn't believe that one of these men could kill their brother.
The success of this documentary comes from several things. The editing is the first major piece since it makes this documentary flow well. Secondly, the interviews with the people on both sides adds to the credibility. The District Attorney and the defense attorney are both interviewed as well as people from all over the town. The trial footage also gives a great look at the testimony of medical experts.
Finally, the three brothers were all interviewed. Their interviews add weight to the innocence claims of Delbert. It's also amazing to see the interaction they have in their dilapidated farmhouse where they're cut off from the world.
I would suggest this film for anyone. The film is a unique look at the justice system, small community life, and illiteracy. I would give this 3.2 out of 5 stars.
The film sheds light onto a small segment of society in central New York state. The brothers worked a farm and lived in the poorest of conditions. None of them were educated and were mainly illiterate. The defense of Delbert would focus on the possible coercion of a confession and Delbert's illiteracy would be at issue. Other factors would include a number of forensic details that were disagreed upon amongst professionals.
Part of the amazing nature of the film is the sudden upwelling of support for Delbert and his brothers from the small farming community he lived in. Despite being seen as outsiders the Ward brothers gained the financial and moral support of a community who didn't believe that one of these men could kill their brother.
The success of this documentary comes from several things. The editing is the first major piece since it makes this documentary flow well. Secondly, the interviews with the people on both sides adds to the credibility. The District Attorney and the defense attorney are both interviewed as well as people from all over the town. The trial footage also gives a great look at the testimony of medical experts.
Finally, the three brothers were all interviewed. Their interviews add weight to the innocence claims of Delbert. It's also amazing to see the interaction they have in their dilapidated farmhouse where they're cut off from the world.
I would suggest this film for anyone. The film is a unique look at the justice system, small community life, and illiteracy. I would give this 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Poetic in its delivery
scottennis23 June 2007
This film was not made to be entertaining, as far as I can tell. That is not an indictment of the film; it is an indictment of the biggest reason people go to see films.
As I watched this film, I was transported into another place. I presume that place is where the filmmakers wanted me to go. It was not a "fun" or "exciting" place. It was simply a place where I could be and feel otherwise than I am and do right now.
I live within bicycle riding distance of the location of the events in this film, yet I got closer than I ever will to them through the craftsmanship of the filmmakers.
The music, the imagery, and the way the story was presented combined to provide me with a notable experience. This story is now part of me.
Thanks to the filmmakers.
As I watched this film, I was transported into another place. I presume that place is where the filmmakers wanted me to go. It was not a "fun" or "exciting" place. It was simply a place where I could be and feel otherwise than I am and do right now.
I live within bicycle riding distance of the location of the events in this film, yet I got closer than I ever will to them through the craftsmanship of the filmmakers.
The music, the imagery, and the way the story was presented combined to provide me with a notable experience. This story is now part of me.
Thanks to the filmmakers.
intriguing true story
SnoopyStyle30 October 2016
It's Munnsville in upstate New York 1990. The four Ward brothers live on their family farm by themselves. The eldest Delbert smothers 64 year old brother William who had been ill for some time. Delbert is arrested for murder and he signs a confession although the brothers have questionable literacy. The prevailing theory is that it's a mercy killing. However, other wilder theories are explored. Although they are recluses, their neighbors rally to their defense. It's an intriguing true crime story. A narrator is needed to put all the information in a concise fashion. This is mostly interviews with the locals and some of them do mumble. The story may be intriguing but the filmmakers do not make more to highlight it. They are able to get all the interviews but it's not organized into an easy narrative. On the other hand, they get the sense of the place and the people.
Quite a story...
Bill2127 August 1999
It's very sad to look at the Ward Boys, a trio of brothers whose simple world is brought out into the national spotlight in 1991 when one of their brothers is found dead in the morning, and one of the brothers, Delbert (who shared the bed with Bill, the dead brother), is accused of murdering/ euthanizing him. To watch them is to see a segment of the country that gets little attention, but is made king of quaintly riveting in this context. We basically see all the different characters of the town go about their daily lives (including the brothers) while the backdrop of the murder trial casts a pall over their lives. It's funny to see people who would have never normally talked to these outcast bumpkins now embrace them as if they were relatives. And the old Ward Boys, all in their 50s and 60s, don't seem too affected by it all until the trial.
This is a really enthralling watch and it gives an insider's view into a community and a world that many of us never get to see. Some of the townspeople are really fun to just listen to, and the police make themselves look pompous and suspect, which is one of the great achievements of this film... it makes us relate to people who are unlike most of us and rally around them against those most like ourselves.
This is a really enthralling watch and it gives an insider's view into a community and a world that many of us never get to see. Some of the townspeople are really fun to just listen to, and the police make themselves look pompous and suspect, which is one of the great achievements of this film... it makes us relate to people who are unlike most of us and rally around them against those most like ourselves.
An Old Fool In Over His Head
gavin694216 March 2016
This documentary details the murder trial of Delbert Ward. Delbert was a member of a family of four elderly brothers, working as semi-literate farmers and living together in isolation from the rest of society until William's death. A police investigation and Medical Examiner's autopsy suggested that Bill may not have died from natural causes and Delbert was arrested on charges of Second-Degree Murder.
The film contrasts two groups of society; people from rural areas and those from larger cities. It also exhibits how the media flocked to the town to cover the story. In some ways, this makes it a precursor to "Making a Murderer" in the sense that big city folks may be looking down on the country folk.
It is hard to tell exactly how mentally impaired the Wards are, particularly Delbert. He cannot read and speaks funny, but is he stupid? Maybe he is just hard of hearing. Regardless, it is hard to watch this and see that this man could possibly be a killer... but I will let viewers decide for themselves if the prosecution has a case.
The film contrasts two groups of society; people from rural areas and those from larger cities. It also exhibits how the media flocked to the town to cover the story. In some ways, this makes it a precursor to "Making a Murderer" in the sense that big city folks may be looking down on the country folk.
It is hard to tell exactly how mentally impaired the Wards are, particularly Delbert. He cannot read and speaks funny, but is he stupid? Maybe he is just hard of hearing. Regardless, it is hard to watch this and see that this man could possibly be a killer... but I will let viewers decide for themselves if the prosecution has a case.
Truth on film
lungshot12 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
My wife and I are from the metropolitan area of NY, but we have been seasonal residents of Central NY around where this documentary took place. Having the knowledge of the area and the feel for what rural America is like in Central NY, I understood completely what the film makers tried to tell in this documentary.
We know people just like the Ward brothers who speak, look and act the same. One old dairy farmer that I know proudly says that he has never been out of the county his whole life. It was for this reason I enjoyed seeing the special movie extra on the DVD in which the Ward Brothers were taken to visit NYC. You as a viewer of this documentary will enter a world which may be strange, disturbing and raw, but it has its own worth and benefit to those who live in it.
While watching the trial, I wondered how jury selection was done and how the attorneys were able to select or eliminate jurors in an area that is very close and opinionated. It seemed as it would be hard to find impartial individuals. With everything else that was covered so well, I felt that this was a necessary part of the film that was left out of either the film or as an extra.
One of the best films I had ever seen.
We know people just like the Ward brothers who speak, look and act the same. One old dairy farmer that I know proudly says that he has never been out of the county his whole life. It was for this reason I enjoyed seeing the special movie extra on the DVD in which the Ward Brothers were taken to visit NYC. You as a viewer of this documentary will enter a world which may be strange, disturbing and raw, but it has its own worth and benefit to those who live in it.
While watching the trial, I wondered how jury selection was done and how the attorneys were able to select or eliminate jurors in an area that is very close and opinionated. It seemed as it would be hard to find impartial individuals. With everything else that was covered so well, I felt that this was a necessary part of the film that was left out of either the film or as an extra.
One of the best films I had ever seen.
Fascinating documentary
tomgillespie200219 May 2014
When God asks Cain where his brother is, Cain replies, "I know not, am I my brother's keeper?". Documentary film-makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky shed the light of their focus not as much on the brother's guilt over the accusation of killing his brother, as on the massive social divide caused by this incident in a small rural village in New York. Living almost in solitude on the farm owned by their family for generations, the three remaining brothers Ward - Delmar, Lyman and Roscoe - were largely ignored by the townsfolk and dismissed as harmless simpletons until the media circus that engulfed their surrounding following the death of eldest brother William descended.
Shot in cinema verite style (Berlinger and Sinofsky worked under the Maysles brothers for a time), the three Ward brothers prove to be strange yet oddly sweet characters. They clearly haven't bathed for weeks, possibly months, their farm is half crumbled, and their living room is cramped and dank. When approached about the topic of women, it becomes clear that they probably haven't ever been with one, therefore inevitably condemning their family line. The main reason the townsfolk quickly gather their support for Delmar after he is accused of murder is because of their simple innocence, and because they have simply never caused any bother. On the opposite side of the spectrum, things are different, with hick stereotypes and cries on incest being broadcast of national TV.
Like Berlinger and Sinosky's Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hoods Hills (1996), the court room scenes are tense and overwhelmingly unfair. One of the most powerful scenes has one of the brother's, a man clearly of social ineptitude, lose his breath on the stand, requiring serious medical attention. This is a world almost alien to them, and they suffer in it due to illiteracy and possible retardation. But it's more than a simple court-room documentary, this is about how society fears and judges people and cultures they simply don't understand. The 'simple' folk seem to easily distinguish right from wrong, yet the fat suits sat behind their big desks play God against people not educated enough to properly fight back.
www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com
Shot in cinema verite style (Berlinger and Sinofsky worked under the Maysles brothers for a time), the three Ward brothers prove to be strange yet oddly sweet characters. They clearly haven't bathed for weeks, possibly months, their farm is half crumbled, and their living room is cramped and dank. When approached about the topic of women, it becomes clear that they probably haven't ever been with one, therefore inevitably condemning their family line. The main reason the townsfolk quickly gather their support for Delmar after he is accused of murder is because of their simple innocence, and because they have simply never caused any bother. On the opposite side of the spectrum, things are different, with hick stereotypes and cries on incest being broadcast of national TV.
Like Berlinger and Sinosky's Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hoods Hills (1996), the court room scenes are tense and overwhelmingly unfair. One of the most powerful scenes has one of the brother's, a man clearly of social ineptitude, lose his breath on the stand, requiring serious medical attention. This is a world almost alien to them, and they suffer in it due to illiteracy and possible retardation. But it's more than a simple court-room documentary, this is about how society fears and judges people and cultures they simply don't understand. The 'simple' folk seem to easily distinguish right from wrong, yet the fat suits sat behind their big desks play God against people not educated enough to properly fight back.
www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com
Who Wants To Sit Through This Kind Of Stuff?
ccthemovieman-113 August 2007
I'll grant you this might have been an interesting true-life story, but that doesn't mean it was an entertaining "documentary"" and worth watching. The Jerry Springer Show might be entertaining but if it is so degrading, profane and just plan ugly, who would watch it? Not me.
That's how I felt about this film. This is just plain too ugly to watch. By the way, beware of those labels about "true story" because films are often manipulated to work to the filmmaker's agenda by cutting footage he doesn't want you to see.
You get the gist of this story in the first 20 minutes, a real picture of these guys who many will assume, with their elitist attitudes, live down South somewhere. Well, it's in New York State.
Regardless, who wants to listen to backwards hillbillies from a small town repeat the same things over and over and over, including a bunch of profanity in their ignorant speech? That's entertainment? No, it is not. Watching a pig get killed is entertainment? I think not. Incest and other fun topics all discussed? No thanks.
No, this is one documentary that is too sordid and too unpleasant to watch. Did I finish it? No, to be honest, I did not....and don't regret it.
That's how I felt about this film. This is just plain too ugly to watch. By the way, beware of those labels about "true story" because films are often manipulated to work to the filmmaker's agenda by cutting footage he doesn't want you to see.
You get the gist of this story in the first 20 minutes, a real picture of these guys who many will assume, with their elitist attitudes, live down South somewhere. Well, it's in New York State.
Regardless, who wants to listen to backwards hillbillies from a small town repeat the same things over and over and over, including a bunch of profanity in their ignorant speech? That's entertainment? No, it is not. Watching a pig get killed is entertainment? I think not. Incest and other fun topics all discussed? No thanks.
No, this is one documentary that is too sordid and too unpleasant to watch. Did I finish it? No, to be honest, I did not....and don't regret it.
Am I my brothers keeper?
TuckMN15 September 1999
From the opening quote from the Book of Genesis about Cain rising up and smiting Abel to the very end sequence, this is not an easy film to watch.
The story of the Ward Brothers in rural New York received national media attention.
Adelbert (Delbert) Ward was accused of murdering his brother William. Questions of euthanasia, incest and just being tired of William's needs are brought up.
But the question arises: Was he railroaded by a legal system looking for an easy answer and a prosecuting attorney up for re-election?
The abject terror of Lymon Ward when he was on the stand is sickening and horrifying to watch.
The townspeople that rally around Delbert and raise the money for his bail in about 20 minutes, even though they have little to spare themselves and don't really know the reclusive Ward brothers is more than just heartwarming -- it is astounding.
The "Boys" (as the townspeople call the Ward brothers)are not really particularly liked by the townspeople who see them as strange, dirty and retarded.
But, whatever they may be they are THEIR strange, dirty and retarded fellow townspeople.
It is not fair to tell you how this movie ends -- you will simply have to see it for yourself.
The story of the Ward Brothers in rural New York received national media attention.
Adelbert (Delbert) Ward was accused of murdering his brother William. Questions of euthanasia, incest and just being tired of William's needs are brought up.
But the question arises: Was he railroaded by a legal system looking for an easy answer and a prosecuting attorney up for re-election?
The abject terror of Lymon Ward when he was on the stand is sickening and horrifying to watch.
The townspeople that rally around Delbert and raise the money for his bail in about 20 minutes, even though they have little to spare themselves and don't really know the reclusive Ward brothers is more than just heartwarming -- it is astounding.
The "Boys" (as the townspeople call the Ward brothers)are not really particularly liked by the townspeople who see them as strange, dirty and retarded.
But, whatever they may be they are THEIR strange, dirty and retarded fellow townspeople.
It is not fair to tell you how this movie ends -- you will simply have to see it for yourself.
A Real Life Being There
bhoover24718 January 2002
Brother's Keeper is quite simply one of the greatest documentaries ever made. The subject of the film Delbert Ward reminds you of a hillbilly Chauncey Gardener from the movie "Being There". Instead of being played by Peter Sellers, Delbert is a real person. Delbert has no indoor plumbing, but he does have a television, so when his life is turned upside down and Connie Chung comes to interview him that is one thing he understands. This amazing story takes place not in rural West Virginia, but in New York state. If you get the chance to see this compelling story be sure not to miss.
And then he slipped
tieman648 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
He died amongst cattle and fowl, in a bed stained by time and grime. As he passed, his brothers slept just inches away. He died in his sleep, they say. The authorities disagree.
"Brother's Keeper" was the directorial feature debut of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, today best known for their "Paradise Lost" documentary series. Quietly eerie, the film revolves around four brothers – Delbert, Bill, Lyman and Roscoe, all semi literate – who lived together for 60 years in a small farmhouse. On June 6th, 1990, Bill is found dead from suffocation and Delbert is arrested, allegedly for confessing to the crime.
Like the "Paradise Lost" series, "Keeper" is primarily about the way in which outcasts and the marginalised are entrapped by the police, forced to give confessions and are subject to bigotry (incest and homophobic allegations). The film's "big themes" are less interesting, though, than the many quiet moments captured by Berlinger's camera. And so we watch as these brothers confront the shocking fact that others view them as being "abnormal". We watch as they realize that others view them as being "relics from another time". We then watch as they subtly change, their mannerisms, vocabulary and inflections altered by mere contact with others. Interesting too is the way local townsfolk embrace and come to the family's defence. Bill's death was a "mercy killing" they insist.
Primal, compassionate and a little creepy, "Brother's Keeper" is a strong documentary by a duo who specialise in the macabre.
8/10 – See "Murder on a Sunday Morning" and "Capturing the Friedmans", two masterpieces in this genre.
"Brother's Keeper" was the directorial feature debut of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, today best known for their "Paradise Lost" documentary series. Quietly eerie, the film revolves around four brothers – Delbert, Bill, Lyman and Roscoe, all semi literate – who lived together for 60 years in a small farmhouse. On June 6th, 1990, Bill is found dead from suffocation and Delbert is arrested, allegedly for confessing to the crime.
Like the "Paradise Lost" series, "Keeper" is primarily about the way in which outcasts and the marginalised are entrapped by the police, forced to give confessions and are subject to bigotry (incest and homophobic allegations). The film's "big themes" are less interesting, though, than the many quiet moments captured by Berlinger's camera. And so we watch as these brothers confront the shocking fact that others view them as being "abnormal". We watch as they realize that others view them as being "relics from another time". We then watch as they subtly change, their mannerisms, vocabulary and inflections altered by mere contact with others. Interesting too is the way local townsfolk embrace and come to the family's defence. Bill's death was a "mercy killing" they insist.
Primal, compassionate and a little creepy, "Brother's Keeper" is a strong documentary by a duo who specialise in the macabre.
8/10 – See "Murder on a Sunday Morning" and "Capturing the Friedmans", two masterpieces in this genre.
Good Documentary - but not what Netflix says it is.
jordan22405 March 2018
Just a warning to those who come across this on Netflix. Their summary of the story is completely inaccurate, as it doesn't mention this film focuses on the trial, but instead indicates it is about how these brothers live. Frankly, while the film was done well, I'd have found it more interesting if it had more closely resembled the Netflix write-up. I wasn't all that interested in the legal case.
Deeply moving and tremendously compelling.
runamokprods20 June 2012
This documentary is the study of four aging rural brothers and farmers who live together in a virtual shack, and the uproar in their town when one is charged with the murder of another.
The locals all believe these sweet, sad, simple, almost retarded seeming souls are incapable of murder, and that Delbert Ward is either being framed entirely, or unfairly prosecuted for a mercy killing in a world where putting an animal out of it's suffering is the norm.
A portrait of rural America like nothing we see in fiction films; there are people living completely out-of-touch with reality and the modern world, and others who are as sophisticated and insightful as any city dweller.
It's also a portrait of law enforcement with what seems to be an agenda beyond just the truth. It all builds to a courtroom sequence more tense than almost any Hollywood thriller. A quite special film.
I wish it didn't wear it's biases quite so on its sleeve. I'd have rather had a chance to make up my own mind about who are the heroes and the villains. But this is still string, thought provoking stuff.
The locals all believe these sweet, sad, simple, almost retarded seeming souls are incapable of murder, and that Delbert Ward is either being framed entirely, or unfairly prosecuted for a mercy killing in a world where putting an animal out of it's suffering is the norm.
A portrait of rural America like nothing we see in fiction films; there are people living completely out-of-touch with reality and the modern world, and others who are as sophisticated and insightful as any city dweller.
It's also a portrait of law enforcement with what seems to be an agenda beyond just the truth. It all builds to a courtroom sequence more tense than almost any Hollywood thriller. A quite special film.
I wish it didn't wear it's biases quite so on its sleeve. I'd have rather had a chance to make up my own mind about who are the heroes and the villains. But this is still string, thought provoking stuff.
Just misses the mark...
CheshireCatsGrin25 December 2009
The fact I even started writing this in my head before the verdict should tell you something. I am a documentary fan and so when this Academy Award winner showed up as available to watch on Netflix instant queue (generally filled with good documentaries) I grabbed it.
Why seven stars then? This movie was that close to that many marks I just didn't have the heart to knock it down to six. I loved meeting the people of the town, especially the effected brothers. The big city vs. rural had a grab to it.
What is wrong with this film then? It tried just that little too hard for me, and that caused it to fall farther than if it hadn't placed itself their in the first half hour.
Over all, an excellent movie. Just expect a rather quick ending.
Why seven stars then? This movie was that close to that many marks I just didn't have the heart to knock it down to six. I loved meeting the people of the town, especially the effected brothers. The big city vs. rural had a grab to it.
What is wrong with this film then? It tried just that little too hard for me, and that caused it to fall farther than if it hadn't placed itself their in the first half hour.
Over all, an excellent movie. Just expect a rather quick ending.
i felt like i knew these people!!
mmdring-118 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
i grew up, and now live in, the ozarks, so the 'ward boys' were very familiar to me. these are people who who have bottomless knowledge--of certain things. living off the land, independence of outside influence...in that sense they have it all. in this case, when the inevitable happens--death--all hell breaks loose and they are thrust into the 'real world'. it's heartbreaking to watch these poor men cope with a system that is so foreign to them; particularly when lyman falls apart during questioning--i found myself yelling at my television, "he's dying!" while the prosecutor and the judge were watching him fall to pieces on the stand with the curiosity one displays at an animal exhibit. the pig slaughter scene is distracting--i did have to look away until it was over--but i do think it's instrumental to the story. it shows these boys had a firm grasp on differentiating the value of human life vs. animal.
Well-constructed documentary, character study and courtroom drama
fishermensmell21 February 2021
The story of Delbert Ward touches on themes of community, rural vs. city lifestyles and values, police and state corruption, euthanasia and media intrusion. This documentary presents views and opinions on all the above without really pushing any one agenda too forcefully. It also wisely avoids drawing a conclusion on the chief question that viewers might have, that being whether or not he actually killed his brother. That said, it does encourage warm feelings and sympathy for Delbert through many interviews and vignettes of his pastoral lifestyle.
Visually, the film is a bit dingy and grimy in places, with several interviews taking place in the dimly-lit family home and a fair portion given over to courtroom proceedings. In this sense, cinematography is a somewhat drab throughout, but presents a fair "slice-of life".
All-in-all this is a good and even documentary, but I felt it was lacking in something: perhaps it doesn't go deep enough into any of its themes to present any new perspective and hence isn't all that thought-provoking. Your enjoyment of this film will likely be relative to how much you enjoy the insight into a disappearing way of life.
Visually, the film is a bit dingy and grimy in places, with several interviews taking place in the dimly-lit family home and a fair portion given over to courtroom proceedings. In this sense, cinematography is a somewhat drab throughout, but presents a fair "slice-of life".
All-in-all this is a good and even documentary, but I felt it was lacking in something: perhaps it doesn't go deep enough into any of its themes to present any new perspective and hence isn't all that thought-provoking. Your enjoyment of this film will likely be relative to how much you enjoy the insight into a disappearing way of life.
Finders Keepers.
morrison-dylan-fan17 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Seeing the very good 2004 doc Some Kind of Monster a few years ago on Metallica's ego trip during the making of their terrible "comeback" album,I was interested to find out that directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky had done True Crime docs. Making a note of their other work,I was pleased to recently see their feature debut doc appear on Netflix UK,which led to me meeting the brothers.
The outline of the doc:
After being ill for a number of years,William Ward dies on the family farm in a small town. The farm has been in the Ward family for generations,with the barely literate family members Roscoe/Lyman and "Delbert" Adelbert all living there. At the scene where William is found,Delbert gets accused by the police of murder.
View on the film:
Filming on the Ward farm for over a year, co-directors/co-editors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky introduce their "Direct Camera" documentary style,with extended takes following the Ward's trying to keep the everyday life on the farm going,as Delbert's murder trial approaches. Respectful to the rural lifestyle,the makers oddly decide to score the title with cliché banjo music,which sounds completely ill-fitting to the professionalism being shown by the makers. Keeping their opinions to Delbert being guilty/ not guilty to themselves, Berlinger and Sinofsky subtly capture the contrast between the rustic,small-town community of the Ward's,with the slick, pristine presentation of the TV crews,the cops and the lawyers,who enter the town to find out who is the brother's keeper.
The outline of the doc:
After being ill for a number of years,William Ward dies on the family farm in a small town. The farm has been in the Ward family for generations,with the barely literate family members Roscoe/Lyman and "Delbert" Adelbert all living there. At the scene where William is found,Delbert gets accused by the police of murder.
View on the film:
Filming on the Ward farm for over a year, co-directors/co-editors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky introduce their "Direct Camera" documentary style,with extended takes following the Ward's trying to keep the everyday life on the farm going,as Delbert's murder trial approaches. Respectful to the rural lifestyle,the makers oddly decide to score the title with cliché banjo music,which sounds completely ill-fitting to the professionalism being shown by the makers. Keeping their opinions to Delbert being guilty/ not guilty to themselves, Berlinger and Sinofsky subtly capture the contrast between the rustic,small-town community of the Ward's,with the slick, pristine presentation of the TV crews,the cops and the lawyers,who enter the town to find out who is the brother's keeper.
Interesting but Overrated Documentary
Paul_Kersey_Jr8 April 2006
I was tempted to give it a 6,but since its getting such high reviews went with a lower rating. After watching, I do feel its overrated,both here and at netflix,the documentary got high ratings and raves,but was not *that good. The documentary kind of drags along,its not real exciting. With time it builds up some momentum,but its mainly centered around the murder trial.The brothers while eccentric,sheltered and reclusive are not total freaks/weirdos,what I mean is you aren't going to see anything really crazy or shocking ,IMO. It could be kind of depressing for some viewers,seeing how the brothers live. The brothers are also hard to understand with their deep rural hick accent. The other neighbors are understandable,though. What I liked about it,was how it gave us glimpse into these reclusive eccentrics lives,and without degrading/mocking the subjects. There is some humor,but its tasteful. I liked the interviews with the townspeople,and found them to be admirable,decent people. I wouldn't mind having them as neighbors. It was nice to see people being good-hearted,tolerant and having a sense of community,its not something you see often nowadays. If you do rent it,make sure to look at the extras. There is a short film,where the reclusive Wards visit Manhattan that I liked very much.
Remarkable and haunting.
TrickTaylor19 February 2008
Brother's Keeper is the gripping story of 4 "simple" (read: functionally mentally retarded) brother farmers, and the firestorm that is touched off when one of them dies. The filmmakers focus on the story of the death, and the trail that takes place after one brother (Delbert) is accused of doing the killing. Was it a mercy killing, or was it a killing at all? Even when the movie concludes we aren't totally sure what the answer is.
The real story here are the brothers themselves. It is amazing, even in 1992, that 4 brothers would be allowed to live in such conditions. They are farmers, but live like little boys frozen in time. The townsfolk seem to rally behind the brothers, despite the hints that before the death of Bill, the town pretty much shunned these simpletons. The brothers are, for all intents and purposes, retarded...barely functioning. The images of them taking the tractor into town are hilarious. The images of them in their "house" are heartbreaking.
This film is clearly sympathetic to the brothers and paints them as poor idiots. The case is made that the brothers, all illiterate, were coerced into signing confessions and statements. One observer states, "He's so illiterate he can't tell time." And you believe him.
Brother's Keeper is an excellent documentary, but it does seem to get a bit involved with the plight of the brothers. Maybe that was the intention. The film works on many levels. One as a crime story. Two as a case study of forgotten souls. And three as an illustration of small town America. Highly recommended.
The real story here are the brothers themselves. It is amazing, even in 1992, that 4 brothers would be allowed to live in such conditions. They are farmers, but live like little boys frozen in time. The townsfolk seem to rally behind the brothers, despite the hints that before the death of Bill, the town pretty much shunned these simpletons. The brothers are, for all intents and purposes, retarded...barely functioning. The images of them taking the tractor into town are hilarious. The images of them in their "house" are heartbreaking.
This film is clearly sympathetic to the brothers and paints them as poor idiots. The case is made that the brothers, all illiterate, were coerced into signing confessions and statements. One observer states, "He's so illiterate he can't tell time." And you believe him.
Brother's Keeper is an excellent documentary, but it does seem to get a bit involved with the plight of the brothers. Maybe that was the intention. The film works on many levels. One as a crime story. Two as a case study of forgotten souls. And three as an illustration of small town America. Highly recommended.
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