My Brother’s Band: A Brotherly Love Story Unfolds Amongst Song & Tragedy

My Brother’s Band is a multi-award winning and delightfully feel-good dramedy which arrives in cinemas just in time for Christmas.

Directed by Emmanuel Courcol, the story delves on acclaimed conductor Thibaut (Benjamine Lavernhe) who has Leukemia and desperately requires a bone marrow transplant. When he’s told from medical professionals that his sister is not a compatible donor, tightly kept family secrets emerge, and he learns he was adopted.

He’s told he has one chance in a million of finding a compatible donor but soon discovers he has an older brother named Jimmy (Pierre Lottin) whom he contacts asking whether he can be his donor.

As with all new relationships there are many ups and downs, especially with Jimmy who angrily asks, “I want to know why I’m here and my brother’s over there!” Tempers flare on both sides, but what brings them closer is their mutual love for music. Both brothers ponder whether music is in their genes.

Jimmy plays a trombone in a small symphonic band and when he asks his brother to prepare them for a competition their bond continues to build.

In the opening sequence the symphonic orchestra performs refined and harmonious music for seemingly several minutes, the thunderous performance capturing the attention of audiences. The grand and rich sound of the combination of strings, brass and woodwinds is mesmerising but suddenly shattered once Thibaut who is conducting, collapses.

The story advances quickly from this point, the symphonic orchestral sequences are  welcomed interludes from the high drama sequences which arise as the narrative unfolds.

My Brother’s Band is primarily a drama, so it’s low on laughter, mildly humorous dialogue providing the odd chuckle. These style of films can traditionally be off-putting for audiences who don’t appreciate the overly emotional tear-jerking style of films, but oddly My Brother’s Band doesn’t fit in this category.

The narrative analyses a newfound relationship and asks; can strangers evolve into brothers later in life after the passage of so many years? Is music a therapeutic remedy in reuniting people? The jealousies and issues in accepting the truth are explored and themes of social class, self-discovery, hope and resilience also resonate.

The reality is that there aren’t always happy endings in life, so the purpose of this film isn’t to sugar coat the life-threatening blood cancer leukaemia. It celebrates the joy of life, the time we spend with family, love, new beginnings, and yet stresses that regardless of human intervention medically or otherwise, the path in life for all of us is uncertain.

The bittersweet finale is not emotionally charged but strangely uplifting and audiences should exit the cinema having thoroughly enjoyed the film and feeling inspired.

***/12

In Cinemas Boxing Day