Baby Brother isn't an entertaining film. 

I know. I know. What a way to start off a review. 

Hang in there. 

It's not. It's not supposed to be an entertaining film. There are, of course, many films for which entertainment is the primary goal. We love that here in the States. We're a little less fond of gritty, stark, and intimate dramas. Yes, I know there are exceptions. The box-office don't lie. Here in America, people want to be entertained. They don't want to be challenged. They don't want to be emotionally exhausted as the closing credits are rolling. 

Baby Brother is an exhausting film. 

Adam (Paddy Rowan) and Liam (Brian Comer) are two brothers brothers being brought up in the kind of environment where you just know it's going to do permanent damage. Mom is a drug-addict with a boyfriend who only exacerbates it all. The brothers are close, at least initially, and Adam does what he can to try to build some stability and to protect Liam from the forces that are seemingly all around him. 

You can't help but want a greeting card ending for Baby Brother. You can't help but want a story this gritty, intense, and dark to suddenly break open the light. But, if we're being honest life doesn't always work that way. However, for those who prefer storytelling that's grounded in honesty and truth-telling it's hard to imagine a much more satisfying motion picture than Baby Brother. Filmed in Liverpool, Baby Brother practically leaves us gasping for air as we're immersed in the lives of these two brothers. Cinematographer David Short's lensing is is startlingly impressive with its tremendous use of natural light and intimacy so uncomfortable you can't help but shake. It's intense and then a little bit more intense. The film essentially captures these two brothers over the course of two days five years apart. The contrast disturbs, as it should, and our minds fill in the gaps. 

Long's work here is tremendous with a beautifully paced film that builds the emotions and yet also demands we keep watching. We care about these characters, especially Paddy Rowan's Adam. I almost feel bad singling anyone out as this is a mighty tremendous ensemble. Brian Comer is tremendous as well as he makes us feel this story and this environment and this unflinching storytelling courtesy of co-writers Long and Tom Sidney.

The film has already picked up the Hans Ohlms Award at the Oldenburg Film Festival, a prize recognizing a director's best first feature film. Indeed, it's rather amazing that this is Long's first feature. It'll be exciting to watch him grow. 

Continuing on the indie fest circuit, Baby Brother is a film to watch for and Michael J. Long is a filmmaker to watch for in the future. You may not be entertained by Baby Brother, but you sure won't forget Baby Brother anytime soon.

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic