Themes: Life in the Arts, Questioning Sexuality, Time Travel
Main Cast: Earle Hyman, Anthony Mackie, Roger Robinson, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Aunjanue Ellis, Duane Boutté, Daniel Sunjata
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
The feature-film debut of filmmaker Rodney Evans, who wrote and produced in addition to taking on directing duties, Brother to Brother explores the life and struggles of black, gay artists in the present and past. Anthony Mackie stars as Perry Williams, a young man dealing with the strife involved with being both African-American and a homosexual in contemporary New York. He is shunned by his father for his sexual identity and wary of being viewed as a sell-out by black peers when his work gains a white audience. When Williams meets an aging poet who was involved in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s, he suddenly finds himself transported back in time and cavorting with the likes of Langston Hughes (Daniel Sunjata) and Zora Neale Hurston (Aunjanue Ellis). Among such legends, Williams is able to gain perspective about his own life. Also starring Roger Robinson and Larry Gilliard Jr., Brother to Brother screened in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Alex Burns - Jim; Ray Ford - Wallace Thurman; Bradley Cole - MacAllister; Earle Hyman; Kevin Jackson - Isaiah; Oni Faida Lampley - Evelyn; Jimmy Martinez - Julio; Lance Reddick - James; Michael Mosley - White Man #1 on subway platform; Billöah Greene - Rahsan; Chad Coleman - El; Reid Mihalko - Harold
Credit
Claire Falkenberg - Art Director, Yoruba Richen - Associate Producer, Ricki G. Maslar - Casting, Tom Alberg - Casting, Vince Liebhart - Casting, Mark Johnson - Co-producer, Seth D. Carmichael - Co-producer, Sarah Beers - Costume Designer, Michael Moffa - First Assistant Director, Rodney Evans - Director, Sabine Hoffman - Editor, Marc Anthony Thompson - Composer (Music Score), Bill Coleman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ernesto Solo - Production Designer, Harlan Bosmajian - Cinematographer, Isen Robbins - Producer, Rodney Evans - Producer, Aimee Schoof - Producer, Jim McKay - Producer, Joshua Anderson - Sound/Sound Designer, Rodney Evans - Screenwriter
St. Louis native Michael Burton formed Brother to Brother with studio musicians Billy Jones, Frankie Prescott, and Yogi Horton in the mid-'70s. They enjoyed success with a good cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "In the Bottle" in 1974, scoring a number nine R&B hit. It was the only one of their releases for Turbo that made any impact. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
Brother to Brother is a film written and directed by Rodney Evans and released in 2004. The film debuted at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival before playing the gay and lesbian film festival circuit, with a limited theatrical release in late 2004.
Glitter Awards Best Feature Indie Gay Film - winner (2005)
Independent Spirit Awards Best Debut Performance: Anthony Mackie - nominated; Best Supporting Male: Rodney Evans - nominated; Best First Screenplay: Rodney Evans - nominated; Best First Feature - nominated (2005)
DVD release
Brother to Brother was released on Region 1 DVD on June 14, 2004.
