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Monday, August 31, 2009
Film / News DVD Pick: Brother John
Posted By Brian Daye on Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 4:37 PM
For those who are devotees of film, or in this case, film acting, or deeper still, minimalist acting 101, check out Brother John, a 1971 film starring Sidney Poitier as John Kane.
Kane returns to a sleepy, racist Alabama town due to the death of his sister after being gone for a long time. Kane’s stoic yet enigmatic presence upsets and offsets the status quo of the town. John is branded a “troublemaker” just because of who he is. Coincidentally, at the same time, the local African-American townspeople are up in arms and protesting the unfair working practices at the local plant.
There’s a scene where Poitier’s Kane calmly yet succinctly takes it to a local sheriff who harasses his brother-in-law. The sheriff in this case will never forget “Brother John.” Poitier’s performance is understated, yet that low-key persona absolutely drives this film, and adds quite nicely to his legendary body of work. The supporting cast truly rounds out this lesser known yet wonderfully directed piece. Will Geer, best known as “Grandpa Walton,” is the town doctor. The great Beverly Todd is John’s love interest. The late Paul Winfield is the town garbage man, and the late Zara Cully, Mother Jefferson on The Jeffersons, is priceless as she eats an Oreo cookie while telling the local pastor about Brother John’s past. When John’s identity is ultimately discovered and revealed by the town doctor, it makes sense why Brother John is an enigma.
What’s most telling about this film is how it subtly shows how lives that should have accomplished even minimal goals did not due to circumstances that possibly could have been controlled. The danger of staying in a small town and only living your life according to the status quo is all too apparent in this film. Check it out.
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