‘Brothers’ Documentary: A Moving Family Journey on Sundance Now

Editor’s Note: See special offer to receive a free trial of the Sundance Now channel at the end of this review.

When you look back, what will you remember?

That is a question asked in various forms in the documentary Brothers, an internationally award-winning documentary currently available to watch on Sundance Now. The film follows two brothers over the course of a decade from young children to young adults. Consider this gem of a film about life, reflection, maturation and parenthood.

Norwegian filmmaker Aslaug Holm records her two sons, who are already accustomed to her constant filming, starting at ages 5 and 8 as they grow up in the country’s capital of Oslo. The river runs close to their home, a paradise in the big city where they share moments both big and small, public and personal.

What is great about this film is it captures the essence of family: the brothers and their bond and maturation. For example, we initially see the youngest son Lukas want to go home after arriving at his new elementary school. Older brother Markus, meanwhile, worries about his sibling having to journey up the stairs to where his classroom is. Later in the film it is Lukas who makes the poignant observation, “If you’re not afraid, you can’t be courageous.” He reminds me of my daughter, a strong sense of self.

There is solid change throughout as well as instances of their fortitude to keep at their dreams, leading to the question: at what point do you stop and enjoy the moment? Older brother Markus, for example, proves set in his career goals and aspirations. He is in a band and still trains for football. His frustrations lie in his school work, something my son is currently experiencing in middle school. There is such an honest dialogue between him and his mother about learning and societal pressures that I’m sure it will sound familiar to many viewers.

Holm and her husband also appear throughout the film. One detail that stuck out to me was Holm speaking about her childhood and how it seemed like forever. Time is fleeting to children. She is expressing her reality and what she felt as a child. It is not that challenging to remember that. I was a child, too.

One free month of Sundance Now

If you don’t already have Sundance Now, you can catch this exclusive and winner of best documentary awards in Norway and Canada, with one month free trial. Visit https://www.sundancenow.com, and sign up for the free trial using the promo code CITYDADS. Be sure to also visit the service’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joel Leoj is a member of our L.A. Dads Group.

DISCLOSURE: City Dads Group and the writer received no compensation for this post outside of being allowed to view the documentary being reviewed.