Chai Tea and a Movie - BROTHERS

Toronto Jewish Film Festival

Presents
Brothers

Directed by Igaal Niddam

CHAI TEA + A MOVIE

Sunday January 17, 2010

Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Centre - 4861 Yonge Street

Tea – 4:00pm | Film – 5:00pm

For Advance tickets and more information 416-967-1528 / http://www.tjff.com

$15 Tickets at the door (subject to availability)
RT: 116 minutes

Country: Switzerland

Language: Hebrew, Spanish with English subtitles

Brothers Dan and Aaron meet in Israel after many years apart, only to discover how different they have become. Dan is a secular Jew living on a kibbutz, while Aaron is an Orthodox lawyer and Torah scholar from the U.S. who has come to Israel to fight a court case. The conflict between the brothers is echoed in the legal battle, which highlights the issue of separation of state and religion in modern Israel. A fascinating argument that will certainly provoke discussion!

Capsule Review:

BROTHERS (Switzerland 2008) ***
Directed by Igaal Niddam

Sibling rivalry is given a Jewish twist with the meeting of two brothers Dan and Aaron separated as children.  This is no Hollywood Toby Maguire Jake Gyllenhaal star vehicle but an earnest drama made more realistic with a story drawn from current social and political issues.  Dan is a secular Jew tending the last herd of sheep on a kibbutz while Aaron suddenly appears.  Dan is upset that Aaron has not journeyed to tie back broken bonds.  Apparently Aaron is fighting a court case involving conscription of the Torah students.  The film’s conflict between state and religion is more interesting that the brothers’ fight.  Niddam takes the secular side more often than the Orthodox views.  But he reveals both sides of each brother, creating a fine balance of character for audiences to identify with.  BROTHERS is an interesting enough film that should serve sufficient fodder for debate during the Chai Tea session.