Brothers of War (2015) User Reviews

There are some brothers involved but not really a war film – and ignore the cover.

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 4/10 · 3 June 2015]

The synopsis of this film is that two brothers have been indulging in sibling rivalry for some time. Greg is the nice one who likes poetry and is all sensitive and Jake is the black sheep who loves divilment and causing a ruckus. This is all told in both linear and flashback mode. Then the war breaks out and Greg is the one who volunteers in 1939 and leaves the familial strife on the farm to go off to war. **Please note the following may contain PLOT SPOILERS**

Well the war bit or rather the actual fighting bit lasts about three minutes of screen time, the rest is all about relationships both in England and France. One brother never even makes it to war. This is though quite a good film if taken on the relationship front and the issues of family ties and love. There are some plot holes too which were easy to have addressed. The acting though is all pretty solid and the attention to period detail is all done very well, especially when you consider this was an independent effort. It is the mis selling that is the real issue here.

So not a war film, per se, but with a background to WW2 to add drama and give context to the bigger story. The cover art is about as accurate as saying FIFA runs like a well oiled machine. It should not be allowed and will attract lovers of war films who may not be at all interested in a purely relationship based story – and that is no matter how well acted and put together it is – hence my rating.

Not impressed

[qmpwor · 1/10 · 22 February 2021]

I see someone mentioned attention to detail. I didn't see it. He would not have been in the army with that mop of hair on his head. And soldiers of that time period shaved unless under constant fighting. Seems like a garbage production to me.

2 hours wasted!

[stephenlong-80505 · 1/10 · 17 August 2019]

Dreadful indulgent piece of romanticism 'plot' all over the place.

A terribly mediocre attempt at a "sweeping war epic"

[ka-rmageddon · 1/10 · 9 July 2015]

There is nothing redeeming about watching Brothers of War. The story lacked any and all forms of depth, as did the frigid characters that were so very hard to even remotely care about.

I was either very uneasy during this film, or very preoccupied with watching my neighbour's fence dry after a fresh coat of linen white paint. The cringe-worthy attempt to create something meaningful with emotional depth, came short as a possible result of the writer/director not having the life experience to show us what life is really like. The real mystery here is how this film got $1.7m to get made. I wonder if the said investors are hunting the filmmaker for their money back. But hell, maybe they enjoyed the film. Maybe they just had no taste to begin with. That money would have been better spent making a documentary about the making of the worst sweeping war epic ever made.

That would have made a much better film, although I would probably be writing a very similar review for it, had it been made instead. And please...please, do not dare to make it now.

Very little about the war. No one likable.

[GwydionMW · 2/10 · 31 January 2016]

Not actually a war film: a few minutes of improbable action.

German troops are shown as shooting captured British soldiers - whatever crimes they committed elsewhere, this simply didn't happen.

The real failure is the characters, all of them truly repellent. Flashes between different times, which is OK, but really nothing entertaining was happening in any of them.

Must have been scripted by someone who's scared of the countryside and decides that it's full of awful people, instead of a mix of all sorts.

There's apparently a plot, but really it did not interest me. Skipped most of it, no signs of anything but more dross

Absolutely the worst Movie Ive ever watched... and I've watched a lot

[megpianonotes · 1/10 · 28 November 2020]

Seriously, the main character Greg is the slimiest rat, biggest loser, and stupidest coward you've ever watched in one film. If you're looking to be disappointed, this is your movie.

Total car crash of a movie

[johnnystingray1 · 1/10 · 25 November 2021]

Gobsmackingly dreadful. The subtitles were the icing on the cake. Watched on Amazon Prime with audio settings set to English (no other options available). The scene in the church with the French miller who has brought them food: He suddenly says something in French and German subtitles appear on screen. Germans arrive and the whole of the following scene has spoken German dialogue with no English subtitles. Sums the whole disaster of a movie up. Oh and the lead character has massive hair just to make it look even more ridiculous. Script on the back if a fag packet etc. Avoid is my recommendation.

Outstanding achievement

[johnnylynch · 8/10 · 26 July 2015]

Having been involved in around 100 productions myself from no/low budget to Hollywood I can see one thing that everyone involved in this film believed in. While watching this of course I can see a few holes but what films don't. In my humble opinion those holes appear for a number of reasons with financial constraints in my experience can harm a truly outstanding script. What Brothers of War does is make the very best of the creative talent that I can see stretched themselves to the limit. Am sure the days was long and very few people moaned as they all knew what could be achieved when all pulling in the same direction. The results on screen are quite simply astounding and like I said earlier when making a film with very little budget its a miracle everyday to shoot something never mind put out a film which can be seen and in this case be proud of. My hat is tipped to those that inspired the monumental work ethic that all the cast and crew put into the making of Brothers of War and I for one would work with anyone involved on their next productions. Watch this and see what I saw and you will watch in awe at the talent we have in the UK independent film industry and I for one will be watching what they do next. Well done everyone.

Waste of my time. I have more of a war with my Mrs in a heated discussion.

[jamesmorley-35332 · 1/10 · 22 May 2023]

If you are watching this for an action pact war film, you will be sorly mistaken. Thats what i thought when i put it on. The main character is a self important slim ball piece of dog faeces. He only ever wanted to save himself. I feel sorry for the brother, yes a nut case but didn't deserve that and his Greg's french Mrs had the worst luck meeting him when she did. The actions he took in helping her was the only good thing he did and burying the bunny.

I know it's easy to say what we would do in certain situations but this was even filmed like a film, its filmed like someone's secret diary that should never be shown the light of day. If that's what the creators wanted then well done you nailed it 👏.

A gem of a film, poignant and incredibly moving.

[peterbluck · 9/10 · 9 June 2015]

I absolutely loved this film, beautifully crafted and storytelling at it's finest. The director's style to my mind is very reminiscent of the late great David Lean. This would appear to be an independent film with no financial backing from a major studio, but you would never believe that. The acting is spot on throughout and the photography is really stunning. I particularly liked the music as well, at times really moving. If you like films like Atonement or Testament of Youth then you'll really enjoy this. Watched this film with my wife who turned to me as the end credits were scrolling and said "Now, that's a film'. Couldn't agree more.

British film-making at its best

[charlesbatchelor · 8/10 · 26 July 2015]

Contains Spoilers!

Just as my faith in the British Film Industry is beginning to wane, along comes a real gem!

'Brothers of War' is a proper war film in that it concentrates on the impact of war and not just on moments of combat - which are actually few and far between in a film which is misleadingly packaged as an action movie.

The story kicks off in Cologne with two German brothers discovering secrets of their ancestry in a letter left in their father's will. So begins an unravelling of the past; a journey with loads of twists and turns and a number of horrific incidents as well!

On a small English farm back in 1939 two brothers are fighting over the same girl and the parents have made the problem worse by having 'favourites'. The brotherly rivalry finally comes to a head one afternoon when the older one starts to show off by playing Russian Roulette. What actually happens on the farm that afternoon isn't entirely clear until the end of the film, but the incident leaves the gung-ho brother shot and paralysed, and the other (more gentle soul) ready to enlist for battle.

The story then follows the fortunes of the two brothers: one who is wheelchair bound, unable to speak and forced to watch his parents slowly destroy themselves, while the younger one runs away from the fighting and starts to work for the French Resistance.

Despite a couple of military blunders (I'm sure the aggressive Sergeant Major would have insisted on closer haircuts for all his regiment!), the war scenes are generally well-handled. The massacre of the British soldiers is particularly horrifying, and the torture of the pregnant young French girl by the SD Officers is genuinely shocking!

The story is beautifully told and the cinematography is stunning - so is the sound track - although I would have liked a few more moments of silence in some of the scenes.

Don't watch this film if you want all-out war action, because you don't get it. What you get instead is a really powerful and convincing story which will leave you both uplifted and drained! Great film! British film-making at its best!

A powerful and emotional film

[jamesclements · 9/10 · 5 August 2015]

The film 'Brothers of War' leaves its viewers stunned by the end. The plot twists encapsulate and grab its audience who sit and watch the harsh realities of war. The beautiful cinematography with sweeping views of the country brings light to a film which grabs the realness of war with little relief. Rory Finn and the rest of the actors bring the film to life with superb acting. The last thing to mention is the attention to detail which immerses the viewers into the time period. The films story is extremely original, Mike Carters writing and direction is definitely something to aspire to. The film really is a much watch!

Absorbing and suitable for people who don't like war films!

[smithannabel · 8/10 · 21 December 2015]

I have watched this twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. It is a film about people not war. Complex personalities and how they interact, against a backdrop of simple lives in simpler times. As long as you appreciate that this is a character study more than a war film you will get a lot out of it. There are some very believable personalities in this film and it was an absolute delight to be greeted with some unfamiliar faces for a change, who nevertheless had an abundance of talent to match any of the current circuit of Hollywood heroes and heroines. Very watchable, and that's coming from someone who avoided Saving Private Ryan for years because of its war context. I was made to watch Brothers of War originally but very pleasantly surprised. Please give it a shot.

2 hours well spent..!

[mark-38064 · 9/10 · 13 August 2015]

Good film - interesting story over 4 generations of one family, which is well shot, well acted and with a great score. Significant parts are played out to the backdrop of WW2 - and I am still squirming at one scene of particular Nazi unpleasantness...! - but not a war film as such.

Some great twists in the storyline and a good example of British film-making, enjoyed by all 3 generations of our family. My only criticism would be the cover art, which as others have said is misleading, but overall this film is well worth viewing for its interesting storyline and the realism of the times in which it is set.

Who is Richard Rubio

[mikhailenkorubio · 14 June 2020]

The name , "Richard Rubio" appears as Part of The Cast And or Crew on This Site as a Credit. My Name Is, Richard Rubio and i haven't worked since 1983 - NOT BECAUSE I HAVE NO TALENT IT'S JUST , THat iM... " lazy............. " BUT - If there is a "Pay" Check with , my name on it... You , can ... Sign it O ver 2 , ??? Ri. ? Chard. ? Ru B... O ???

... Yeah OK ! I'm too am going through a little... "Stay at Home" - thing. I guess i should be grateful that i am Not a closterphobic Bird...