‘Brothers At War’ Opens March 13th

With ”Brothers at War” set for release this Friday, over the course of the coming week Big Hollywood will feature a full review of the documentary along with an interview with the film’s creator, Jake Rademacher. I attended one of the advance screenings, and worried it would be nothing more than a right-wing response to Hollywood’s punishing series of anti-war films, “Brothers at War” ended up being one the most pleasant experiences of last year. Here’s a little of what I wrote at the time:

Thankfully, all my hand-wringing ended up being pointless because Jake Rademacher’s intimate documentary about his need to bridge the growing distance between himself and his two younger brothers serving in Iraq is a beautiful and moving piece of work which transcends agenda to tell the story of three brothers at war, not in Iraq, but with the gap their different life choices created between them. That’s why the film works — it’s not about Iraq. Iraq just happens to be where one brother had to journey to recapture something lost. …

What makes the film so effective is its honesty. Unlike these anti-war documentaries and narratives where you feel manipulated by the narrow context of what the filmmaker is choosing to show you, Brothers at War feels fully fleshed out. There are plenty of horrific moments to bolster the anti-war argument and many hopeful moments to arm the other side, but what rises from all of this are those magnificent men and women who serve their country by leaving their loved ones behind to run towards danger.

Anti-troop propagandist would choose only to show our guys cussing, annoyed with slow-moving Iraqi soldiers, and strutting their machismo. Pro-troop propagandist would choose only to show the brave, heroic, and vulnerable moments.

Rademacher shows it all, and when the smoke clears, heroes emerge.

Your position on the Iraq War will have nothing to do with your opinion of the film. If you’re a fan of intelligent, moving stories, “Brothers at War” is a must-see.

Here’s the the film’s website. Below is the current release schedule, and here’s information on how to bring “Brothers at War” to a theatre near you.

OPENING DATES FOR “BROTHERS AT WAR”

3/13/2009

• Columbus, GA (near Fort Benning), Carmike 15 – http://www.carmike.com/
• Fayetteville, NC (near Fort Bragg), Carmike 12 – http://www.carmike.com/
• Jacksonville, NC (near Camp LeJeune), Carmike 16 – http://www.carmike.com/
• Chicago, IL AMC River East – AMC – http://www.amctheatres.com/
• Washington DC Landmark E Street Cinema – Landmark Theatres – http://landmarktheatres.com/
• Arlington, VA AMC Shirlington – AMC – http://www.amctheatres.com/

3/20/2009

• Akron (Ohio National Guard), Regal Interstate Park 18 – Regal Cinemas – http://regalcinemas.com/

3/27/2009

• Augusta, GA (near Fort Gordon, US Army)
• Savannah, GA (near Fort Stewart, US Army), Coming Soon
• Shreveport, LA (near Barksdale AFB, US Air Force) Cinemark Tinseltown 17 – http://www.cinemark.com/
• Clarksville, TN (near Fort Campbell, US Army) Carmike Governor’s Square 10 – Carmike – http://www.carmike.com/
• Hampton, VA (near Langley AFB, US Air Force), AMC Hampton Towne Center 24 – AMC – http://www.amctheatres.com/
• Newport News, VA (near Fort Eustis, US Army), AMC Kiln Creek 20 – AMC – http://www.amctheatres.com/
• Norfolk, VA (near Norfolk Naval Station, US Navy), Coming Soon
• Killeen, TX (near Fort Hood), Hollywood Stadium 14 – Hollywood Theaters – http://gohollywood.com/
• San Antonio, TX – Bijou at the Crossroads – Santikos – http://www.santikos.com/
• Cleveland Heights (Ohio National Guard), Cedar Lee Cinema
• Dayton (near Wright-Patterson AFB, US Air Force), Regal Hollywood 20-Fairfield Commons – Regal Cinemas – http://regalcinemas.com/
• Decatur, IL Carmike Hickory Pointe 12 – Carmike – http://www.carmike.com/
• Tacoma, WA (near Fort Lewis), Coming Soon
• Oceanside, CA (near Camp Pendleton) Regal Oceanside 16 – http://regalcinemas.com/
• Monterey, CA (near Presidio of Monterrey, DOD), Osio Cinema