Customer Reviews

Brother's Keeper [VHS]

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This one of the most profoundly disturbing movies I have ever seen. The documentary details the events surrounding the trial of Delbert Ward for the alleged murder of his brother Bill, two of four elderly brothers living as near-hermits in a tiny shack near the rural township of Munnsville, New York. After an autopsy revealed that Bill might not have died under natural circumstances, Delbert was questioned and signed a confession, though he might not have been mentally competent to do so.

Initially, the viewer responds to the sheer oddness of the Ward brothers, their way of life, their extraordinary social isolation, and the way of life they have carved for themselves, which was utterly unlike that of the rest of American society. At times, one feels one is taking a vacation trip along the edge of the abyss. Gradually, however, the film takes on far more nuanced and subtle aspects in relating their story to the town as a whole, and their growing support of one of their residents being judged and accused by outsiders.

This is not a movie that clears up any mysteries or comes to any firm conclusions. Filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky start off with a perplexing possible crime and end in a confusing fog. One doesn't know quite what to think (though a possible mercy killing of Bill, who was ill at the time of his death, seems a possibility). But the depth and power of the film is undeniable, and it unquestionably belongs on a short list of the best documentary films of recent decades.

It's impossible to praise "Brother's Keeper" too much. Not only a superb documentary, it's one of the best movies of any genre I've seen. Even after a half-dozen viewings, it holds up.

"Brother's Keeper" is one of those rare films in which everything perfectly falls into place. It's not just the documentation of an odd murder trial in a forgotten part of the US, but a multi-leveled story about -- well, just about everything.

One of those many things is a cautionary tale of how the legal system can and will do _anything_ to convict _somebody_, whether or not a crime has been committed. It's a perfect real-life example of why The Police and the Prosecutors Cannot Be Trusted.

For me, the best thing about "Brother's Keeper" is the way a town of what "we" would consider moronic hicks displays a level of intelligence, common sense, and compassion that "educated" folk rarely, if ever, approach.

"Brother's Keeper" also has one of the most heart-rending scenes you'll ever see. Keep the Kleenex handy.

The DVD is an improvement over the LaserDisk. It's slightly sharper (though not much -- the source material is 16mm film) and the colors are brighter and less muddy. Contrary to some listings, this is neither a widescreen film, nor is the sound stereo.

I've seen "Brother's Keeper" rated variously as G or R (!!!), but it has no official MPAA rating. Parents concerned about what their children view should note that a live pig is butchered in graphic detail. There are also several scenes covering the police's invention of a mind-bogglingly preposterous "motive" for Delbert murdering William. For those who haven't seen the film, I won't reveal it, but it's something most parents would prefer not to discuss with pre-teens.

Absolutely, unreservedly recommended.

Note: In browsing the other reviews, I noted that some viewers tend to see what they want to see. Although it's not clear whether the Ward brothers are illiterate (even if there was no school to attend, it's hard to believe their parents didn't teach them to read and write), it is nevertheless true that they are NOT mentally defective, NOT the product of inbreeding, NOT "hicks", and NOT "stupid". (Delbert's low IQ is the result of a lack of education, not a lack of "intelligence".) Nor are they poor, or "outcasts" (though, as one member of the community comments, their body odor renders them unsuitable companions in a restaurant). If the Ward brothers have a problem, it's that they are naive in the ways of the world, which is hardly a reason for condemnation.

This is one of the most wonderful films I have ever seen. Why it was not given the academy award for best documentary the year of it's release I'll never know. This film will captivate you from begining to end. This is a sad yet masterfully told story of a simple people who by the death of a brother are propelled into the not so simple world of the judicial system. It is also a feel good story of a town who will do most anything to back their own. Im sure after seeing this Documentary you will be as moved as I was.

Making a myopic documentary can often be a death sentence. But delving into one community and one family can be done well if you don't lose focus. And thankfully directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (Paradise Lost and 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America) inherently realized this and kept their cameras firmly in the faces of the Ward family and their surrounding New York community.

Reeling from the alleged murder of 64-year-old Bill Ward by his brother Delbert, the Ward family and their neighbors circle their wagons in support of Delbert. From the get-go we're aware of the Ward brothers' minimal education and unhealthy lifestyle (their home is a stinking shack surrounded by a dairy farm). We're also privy to the fact that Bill was not a well man. His illness is never fully explained, but one could easily surmise cancer as a cause. Initially the story seems bent toward a mercy killing; Delbert smothering brother Bill one night to "put him out of his misery." But then homosexual incest rears up (none of the Ward brothers were married), as does animosity between the brothers.

Delbert initially confesses to the murder, but without legal representation present and without apparent knowledge of his rights (a pretty big mistake from a legal standpoint). Delbert is arrested but quickly posts bail thanks to the rural community rallying to his side. No one can believe that Delbert killed Bill. Indeed, Delbert confesses his innocence and states that the only reason he admitted to killing Bill was because he wanted to "get back home."

Receiving multiple nominations at film festivals across the globe in 1992, BROTHER'S KEEPER holds quite the moral quagmire for viewers. Some will view Delbert's confession as solid proof that he did it. Others may feel he was the victim of a legal system that is only interested in prosecuting the least of its citizens. Still others may believe Delbert to be guilty of a mercy killing and be happy at the outcome of the trial.

Regardless of ones legal or moral leanings, this story certainly is gripping in its honesty, showing both sides of the dilemma without flinching.

I am a resident of Central New York and this story was very well known to everybody in these parts.If your reading this you probally have read some of the other reviews so I`ll be brief.This is an incredible film,you are taken to a place that exists and people that are exactly what you see...its almost like travelling back to the turn of the century when you visit the Ward farm.The Ward brothers were indeed considered outsiders by some locals but they,ultimately,were a genuine thread that made up the fabric of this community and after Delbert is charged with his brothers murder and when the people sensed a railroading by a politically minded D.A.,they rally to Delbert`s defense.It is a unique look at small town America...from its citizens,its lifestyle and its politics.
The film is sometimes funny,disturbing and even uncomfortable at times but it is as powerful an experience as you could ever have.Like another documentary I have seen - Sunshine Hotel....about flophouses on the Bowery in New York City - it pulls no punches and hits hard....gritty and bold it will resonate long after its final credits have rolled.

BROTHER'S KEEPER (New Video Group), the much praised, unforgettable true account of the murder trial of Delbert Ward, is a mesmerizing, heart-rending drama. Delbert has an IQ of 63 and can't read or write. He's one of four equally simple, bearded, unbathed, elderly brothers in Munnsville, New York (population 500) who raise cows, live in a shack, and rarely see outsiders. When one brother dies, Delbert is accused of murder. Rumors fly that a confession was coerced and the people of Munnsville band together to help Delbert. This incredibly compassionate documentary reveals the morality of the rural community and the souls of the three surviving brothers. Highest recommendation.

Brother's Keeper is an amazing movie. Every time I watch it, my heart fills with compassion for Delbert, his brothers and all the innocent people in this world that are caught in circumstances they cannot grasp or change. If I'm feeling sorry for myself- which is absurd as I'm blessed with a healthy mind and body, wonderful family and friends- I watch a film like Brother's Keeper to wake me up to what true suffering and hardship is. It reminds me just how great I've got it.

A near impossible documentary to categorize, this touching film focuses on the alleged murder of Bill Ward by his brother Delbert, a plain dairy farmer in the central New York community of Munnsville. His defense becomes a rallying cry to his neighbors as he becomes a target of speculation, abuse and manipulation. At times it seems this story is about the exploitation of country-folk by the media, or the encroachment of the city on rural communities like Munnsville, or the importance of community activism in the judicial system, or abuses of power by an unsympathetic police department. But at its core, this is a yarn about four brothers, hermits, living a nearly extinct lifestyle among cows and hayfields, knowing only each other in their day-to-day life.

Berlinger and Sinofsky play with their audience. Lulling us into a false sense of knowledge, we casually apply stereotypes to the people of Munnsville and then, by watching how they respond to this crisis, slowly we are forced to conclude that, like the media circus that followed the Ward case for so many months, we are as wrong in our preconceptions and as quick to leap to judgment about these people as all those who've done them wrong. The people of Munnsville are not simple. Or stupid. They chose their way of life, they did not fall into it.

Despite which, the Ward brothers are, at times, seen as sad; illiterate and deprived of human contact as they are. When Lyman Ward testifies on his brother's behalf, he shakes and is unable to speak because people make him nervous. This scene is so touching - it is to the directors credit that they were deft enough just to let the camera record his trembling in silence. That image stays with the audience long after the film ends.

Brother's Keeper is more compelling than any fictional drama, painting broad strokes on a very small canvas. The story is personal, compassionate, and powerful.

This is the story of the murder trail of Delbert Ward, one of four outcast elderly brothers in the town of Munnsville, New York, population 500, not far from Onieda. The brothers lived together in a dilapidated shack, raised cows and rarely came to town. The didn't bathe or shave much and were generally outcasts.

And then, one of the brothers died and his brother was accused of his murder. The town banded together to help him as it seemed as if he were coerced in confessing. He had an IQ of 63 and could neither read nor write. The other brothers were equally as simple.

The trial got national media attention, and even Connie Chung came out to interview Delbert and the people of the town. How this all effected everyone concerned is painstakingly recorded in this documentary.

Us city-folk rarely get such a penetrating glimpse into the lives of a rural community and the townspeople, and the three surviving brothers all shine with humanity. We get to know the people. We get to see the trial. We hold our breath during testimony. Rumors fly. The case becomes absurd. All filmed with utmost compassion.

This is not a fun movie to watch but it rings with a universal truth and the viewer comes away with an enriched sense of humanity.

That this film is dedicated to the memory of David Maysles should tell you all you need to know about what's in store. Along with his brother Albert, David Maysles created some of the most groundbreaking and fascinating documentaries of the 60's and 70's ("Gimme Shelter," "Salesman," "Grey Gardens"), and Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky did a fabulous job here of carrying on the stylistic tradition. The story of the poor and semi-literate Ward brothers is touching and engrossing, despite the squalor in which they lived, and this early 90's legal case is a significant study in cultural assumptions and regional justice. Absorbing, and worth owning.

This 10th anniversary edition packs on a host of extras, but just an FYI: The "Product Detail" here on Amazon that suggests that this 'stars' Connie Chung is wildly inaccurate; she did a piece on the Ward brothers which we see them watching on a TV for a couple of minutes, and that's all. She never physically appears in this film.