SON FReRE aka HIS BROTHER

Year: 2002
USA: Strand Releasing
UK: Parasol Peccadillo Releasing
Cast: Bruno Todeschini, Eric Caravaca, Nathalie Boutefeu, Maurice Garrel, Catherine Ferran, Antoinette Moya, Sylvain Jacques, Fred Ulysse, Robinson Stevenin, Claudine Benichou, Veronique Iafrate, Cathy Roudaut, Sabrina Fessan, Catherine Moulin, Sandrine Faccini, Jessy etienne, Gisele Lioni, Antoinette Naras, Christine Cros, Stephane Jamet, Hayatte Mazit, Eddy Battery, Antoine Rousseau, Remy Boulay, Patrick Gautier, Eric Cattacin, Gregory Pomet
Director: Patrice Chereau
Country: France
Language: French (English subtitles)
UK: 92 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language, sex and nudity
USA Release Date: 2 April 2004 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 20 February 2004

Synopsis

Thomas (Bruno Todeschini) is dying. He and his younger brother Luc (Eric Caravaca) spend time at the family beach house preparing for the inexorable decline of the older sibling.

Earlier in the year the previously distant Thomas had turned up on his brother's doorstep seeking help in advance of a dreaded hospital visit. As the two men struggle to adapt to their new roles as patient and carer, their relationships with their lovers breakdown under the strain. Thomas' long suffering girlfriend Claire (Nathalie Boutefeu) is pushed away to make room for Luc's attentions, and Luc's lover Vincent (Sylvain Jacques) is admonished for befriending Thomas without his permission.

A radical operation is proposed and for a time it seems that there is hope that Thomas will recover, but as the mysterious blood disease resists all attempts to be contained his will to fight slowly ebbs away and all that is left is for him to choose how he will say goodbye.

The film, which features astonishing lead performances from Bruno Todeschini (VA SAVOIR, CODE UNKNOWN, THOSE WHO LOVE ME CAN TAKE THE TRAIN) and Eric Caravaca (OFFICER'S WARD), was awarded the prestigious Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival 2003.