Brody's Scribbles... Gay Neo-Nazi Movie "Brotherhood" Wins at Rome Film Festival

By Brody Levesque (Bethesda, Maryland) Nov 1 | A dear friend of mine, who spends a great deal of his time traveling from film festival to film festival reviewing the offerings of some of Europe's most talented LGBT film makers, sent me this review by AfterElton.com's Senior Editor Michael Jensen. This Danish Film, "Brotherhood," recently won "Best Picture" at the Rome Film Festival on October 24th.

Michael Jensen  Photo by AfterElton.com

By Michael Jensen (Tacoma, Washington) Oct 25 | Over the weekend, the Danish film Brotherhood snagged the best picture award at the Rome Film Festival. Directed by Nicolo Donato, the movie is about a secret love affair between two members of a neo-Nazi group. You know, your classic "self-hating gay racist falls in love with another closeted gay racist and all sorts of wacky adventures happen" gay romantic comedy. Or perhaps it's a little darker than that. 

The movie stars Thure Lindhardt as Lars, a former soldier who falls in love with his neo-Nazi mentor Jimmy (David Dencik) after he joins Jimmy's group of racists. Given that neo-Nazis aren't exactly known for being gay-friendly, their affair carries a great deal of risk for the two men. I haven't found out much more about the plot at this point, but we'll definitely be reviewing it when it gets released.

BTW, I couldn't help but groan after reading how dismissive Noel Sheppard was over at wingnut site NewsBusters apparently just because the movie is about two gay men who aren't the usual stereotypes Sheppard expects his gay characters to be. Said Sheppard about the plot and the award:

So, the couple falls in love after performing raids on homosexuals? And such a plot line is worthy of top honors at a film festival?

Well, yes, Noel, at least according to the people who have actually seen the movie.

Film Synopsis: "Brotherhood" is a story about dangerous love and the search for identity. Following disillusionment with his career, Lars decides to leave the army and is drawn to the Neo-Nazi movement and not least to his peer, Jimmy. The two men become embroiled in a secret love affair, but such forbidden love cannot go unpunished in fascist circles. However, despite all the rules forbidding it, the love and sexual attraction between the two men is so strong that they cannot abandon their affair.  

Director Nicola Donato

Photo by La Repubblica.it