Brødre (2004)

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Susanne Bier (story)
Anders Thomas Jensen (story)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Two brothers must negotiate changing roles and shifting family dynamics when one is sent to war in Afghanistan.

Plot Keywords:

Afghanistan | Brother | Prisoner | Cheating Wife | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

13 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Connie Nielsen	...	Sarah
Ulrich Thomsen	...	Michael
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Jannik
Sarah Juel Werner	...	Natalia
Rebecca Løgstrup	...	Camilla (as Rebecca Løgstrup Soltau)
Bent Mejding	...	Henning
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Else
Niels Olsen	...	Allentoft
Paw Henriksen	...	Niels Peter
Lars Hjortshøj	...	Preben 2
Lars Ranthe	...	Preben 1
André Babikian	...	Nadeem
Lene Maria Christensen	...	J. Solvej
Laura Bro	...	Ditte
Henrik Koefoed	...	Bartender
Tom Mannion	...	Miles
Karzan Sherabayani	...	Makmuhd
William El Gardi	...	Samial-Tariq, Afghanistan (as William El-Gardi)
Alex Caan	...	Farid, Afghanistan
Sam Vincenti	...	Wisam, Afghanistan
Hossein Karimbeik	...	Hossein, Afghanistan
Hassani Shapi	...	Hassan Afghanistan
Bjarne Antonisen	...	Fåborg
Morten Kirkskov	...	Officer 1
Claus Flygare	...	Officer 2
Niels Lund Boesen	...	Fængselsbetjent 1
Morten Hebsgaard	...	Fængselsbetjent 2
Michael Asmussen	...	Politibetjent 1
Rasmus Botoft	...	Politibetjent 2
Alexis Rodney	...	US-soldat 1
Philip Bulcock	...	US-soldat 1
Thomas Magnussen	...	Radartekniker
Scott Farrell	...	Engelsk militærlæge
Tobias Theodor Caspersen	...	Gustav
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Thorbjørn Hein	...	Royal Guard Officer in church (uncredited)
Maj-Britt Mathiesen	...	Sygeplejerske (uncredited)

Directed by
Susanne Bier

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Susanne Bier		story
Anders Thomas Jensen		story

Produced by
Anna Anthony	....	co-producer
Karen Bentzon	....	line producer
Gillian Berrie	....	co-producer
Malte Forsell	....	co-producer
Peter Garde	....	executive producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	producer
Sisse Graum Jørgensen	....	producer (as Sisse Graum Olsen)
Sofie Saxild	....	assistant producer
Aagot Skjeldal	....	co-producer
Jaume Vilalta	....	producer: Spain

Original Music by
Johan Söderqvist

Cinematography by
Morten Søborg

Film Editing by
Pernille Bech Christensen
Adam Nielsen

Casting by
Des Hamilton
Lene Seested
Jette Termann

Production Design by
Viggo Bentzon

Set Decoration by
Lene Ejlersen

Costume Design by
Signe Sejlund

Makeup Department
Morten Jacobsen	....	special makeup effects artist
Charlotte Laustsen	....	makeup artist
Anne Cathrine Sauerberg	....	key makeup artist (as Anne-Cathrine Sauerberg)

Production Management
William Knuttel	....	production manager
Ingrid Kofoed	....	production manager
Pia Nielsen	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henrik Henziger	....	second assistant director: Spain
Joakim Höglund	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ivar Baungaard	....	prop master
Tone Bonnén	....	prop master
Fernando Contreras	....	construction coordinator: Spain
Lars Fog-Møller	....	chief props
Henrik Hjørnholm	....	props assistant
Veronica Hodges	....	prop master
Magnus Kasting	....	props assistant
Niels Mølgaard	....	props assistant
Søren Skjær	....	assistant production designer: Spain

Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	sound editor
Per Dybdahl	....	sound assistant
Anne Jensen	....	sound designer
Kasper Munck-Hansen	....	assistant sound designer
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
John Nielsen	....	boom operator
Eddie Simonsen	....	B-sound designer
Per Streit	....	sound designer
Per Streit	....	sound
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: dolby film sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Reyes Abades	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Søren Buus	....	lead 3D animator
Peter Hjorth	....	visual effects supervisor
Dan Konzior	....	color grader
Rasmus Lange	....	visual effects designer
Justin Legg	....	online and effects
Nanna Mailand-Mercado	....	visual effects producer
Tine Nikali	....	particles & volumetrics animator
Mads Nybo Jørgensen	....	online and effects
Richard Pilmore	....	filter settings
Søren Tomas	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Hans Peter Ludvigsen	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Erik Aavatsmark	....	still photographer
Mikael Kort Kristensen	....	grip
Morten Nybø	....	lighting technician (as Morten Nyboe)
Michael Rosenløv Jensen	....	first assistant camera
Otto Stenov	....	light design
Peter Daniel Zeuthen	....	clapper loader

Casting Department
Paco Cañizares	....	casting: Spain
Kahleen Crawford	....	additional casting: UK
Des Hamilton	....	additional casting: UK

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne-Dorthe Eskildsen	....	costume design assistant
Maj-Britt Velling	....	costume design assistant

Editorial Department
Anne Katrine Andersen	....	post-production coordinator
Torben Ager Andersen	....	assistant editor (as Torben Andersen)
Thomas Caspersen	....	telecine operator
Carsten Dyhr	....	assistant editor
Mette Høst Hansen	....	post-production assistant
Peter Harry	....	assistant to editor
Julie Klitgaard	....	post-production coordinator
Jacob Thuesen	....	trailer editor
Mette Walter	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Mikkel Maltha	....	music coordinator
Joakim Milder	....	orchestrator
Eddie Simonsen	....	music mixer
Paul Talkington	....	musical director

Other crew
Samanou Acheche	....	production assistant
Beth Allan	....	production assistant
Fernando Alonso	....	location manager: Spain
Anders Barlebo	....	production coordinator
Mikael Colville-Andersen	....	script translator
Carrie Comerford	....	production executive
Linda Daae	....	continuity
Lars Dela	....	technical consultant
Anna Duffield	....	assistant to producer: UK
Thomas Engedal Sørensen	....	production assistant
Christina Gurewitsch	....	personal assistant: Connie Nielsen
Jarl Axel Hansen	....	production assistant
Fereshta Kazemi	....	voice-over
Ann Køj	....	accountant: Denmark
Jacob-Ole Remming	....	runner
Morten Rosenmeier	....	runner
Astrid Søndberg	....	production assistant
Carsten Sparwath	....	location scout
Sanni Sylvester	....	production coordinator
Malina Terkelsen	....	production assistant
Keld Thaarup	....	voice coach
Michael Tøt	....	production assistant
Isabel Tulloch	....	accountant: UK
Tomás Urbán	....	weapons master: Spain
Ann Vognsen	....	accountant: Denmark (as Anse Vognsen)
Sarah Wells	....	accountant: UK
Paul Wilson	....	title graphic design

Production Companies

• Two Brothers Ltd.
• Fjellape Film AS (co-production)
• Memfis Film (co-production)
• Sigma Films (co-production)
• Zentropa Entertainments

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• IFC Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Look Now! (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Teodora Film (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Équation (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• 791 Cine (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mandala Films (2005) (Mexico) (all media)
• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (worldwide)
• Pelicanfilms (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• SF Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Vivarto (2006) (Poland) (all media)

Special Effects

• 3D Connection (match moving)
• Gearless ApS (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Angel Recording Studios  sound recording studio
• Klippegangen ApS  post-production services
• Mac Million Ltd.  post-production facilities
• Mainstream ApS  sound studio
• Rekorder ApS  video-to-film transfer

Also Known As:

Bröder (Sweden)
Brothers (International: English title)
Bracia (Poland) [pl]
Brothers - Zwischen Brüdern (Germany) (DVD title) [de]
Hermanos (Argentina) [es]
Nu râvni la sotia fratelui (Romania) [ro]
Ouk epithymiseis ti gynaika tou plision sou (Greece) [el]
Verdades ocultas (Colombia) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Denmark | UK | Sweden | Norway

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Belgium:KT | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | France:U | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Two Brothers Ltd.

Trivia:

Director Susanne Bier thought 'Connie Nielsen''s accent was more Swedish than Danish and made her take Danish lesson. Nielsen has been living in the USA for many years, and didn't speak Danish in her everyday life, but the result of the lessons turned out to be pretty good (though, still with a little accent).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Michael is saying goodbye to the girls, the time on the clock jumps backwards between shots.

Quotes:

Michael: I will always love you. That is the only truth that remains. Life is neither right nor wrong, good or bad. But I love you. That's all I know.

Movie Connections:

References Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Parallel stories, synchronized storytelling

It's rare to find a movie with a meaningful, political context that is also good drama. Brødre / Brothers has two interwoven story lines: one about the relationship between two brothers, the other about the difference between comfortable Western civilizations sending out soldiers to various missions and the actual war zones. These stories mirror each other and both brothers change roles during the movie: One starts in prison, the other ends up there; one is a family man; the other takes over this role after his brother's death. There is a nice ending, but I find that the only element not fitting the overall structure.

I like this also because it is well edited. Synchronization of images is used to tell the story of Michael in Afghanistan and Sarah in Denmark. Frequently a shot of Afghanistan is shown and directly followed by the same shot in Denmark: looking at a road, from a bus or car, etc.

Initially rhythm is established through a central 'Afghan' theme song. Once the characters are established in our minds, the acting takes over. I'm still wondering why Danish actors (and Scandinavian actors in general) are so good in what they do: Is that a compulsory subject in primary school there because even the children act so unbelievably natural.

The ethical dilemmas facing soldiers are well presented. Michael first has to demonstrate how a launcher works, knowing it will be used against his own people. Then comes the ultimate decision. The traumas he faces are real and reminded me of actual, similar stories of soldiers returning from Bosnia, Afghanistan or Iraq.

Susanne Bier has come out of the Dogme-movement as one of the better directors. In a world with not that many (talented) female directors she is someone to be cherished.