Probably the heaviest film on this list, American History X is a pretty devastating story about a complicated relationship between two brothers. There are elements of the severest kind of racism and domestic abuse, hate crimes and the quest for redemption. Edward Norton plays the older brother, Derek, a neo-Nazi who commits a hate crime and changes his ways entirely in prison. The trouble is, on his release, he finds his younger brother, Danny, has taken up his racist mantle.
It’s a compelling take on the inherited nature of prejudice, the circumstantial and narrow experience that can lead one down the path towards darkness and hatred, and the prospect of ever finding a way out of that kind of culture. The element of brotherly relations is also interesting here, in its depiction of the influence an older sibling can have on one who’s younger, sometimes being a case of idolization, or simply the act of following the example that’s been set. It also examines questions of responsibility, with the Norton character ultimately recognizing his level of responsible for his actions and their effects on others, although with his brother his earlier transgressions seem to have already done significant damage.
Relationships involving romance or simple friendship are probably the most common in cinematic narratives, with parental relationships following close behind. But the dynamic between siblings is one that has peculiarities worth examining. There are really good examples of brother-sister dynamics in movies like You Can Count On Me and The Savages, even Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or sister movies like Your Sister’s Sister or Hannah and Her Sisters and probably other movies that don’t have “sister” in the title.
Are there any movies dealing with literal brotherhood or siblinghood that you enjoy? Share them in the comments section below.
